Help! my soul mate is a convict!?

My childhood friend & neighbor (whom I grew up with), got sent to prison when he was for Burglery because he stole 7 firearms from his uncle's gun cabnit. consequently, he got a year for every gun; 7 years. I wrote to him his first three years then stopped writing because he still sounded so immature and I decided to move on with my life. Two years went by and all the sudden I got another letter from him. It touchedme so much it was like a whole new "sensitive" side of him I'd never seen. We used to fight like brother & sister & now he expresses his love for me, I didn't think the day would come I'd ever hear those words. Anyway, I've always thought he was my soul mate since we were kids: we act aalike, have the same dreams, ideas, even our names sound alike & we have the same initials. I actually "sense" the exact day his letter is going 2 arrive. I also think about him 24-7. My feelings have never changed for him, I was just waiting for him 2 "grow-up" & feel the same. Now that he's getting released in a few months, I am actually thinking about being with him, but I am not sure if that's in my best interest because I don't want to have 2 explain his being in prison. My family might be disappointed. I am a Nursing student who works full-time & he's coming out of prison with nothing. I know I could get a man whose better off, but my soul calls this man....I can't explain it. WHAT SHOULD I DO!?!??!!?