Nieves was born in a house next to the emblematic Paseo de los Tristes in Granada, in 1945. Her grandparents, uncles, aunts and uncles and her parents live in this house for a long time, until her grandparents pass away. Then they move to the Albaicín neighborhood, specifically, to San Miguel Bajo, where she lives happily, despite the economic shortage suffered by the family. 

Due to the lack of resources, Nieves has to leave school at the age of nine. She finds work as a dressmaker, as do her aunts and mother. She starts learning to sew in a tailor’s workshop on the Gran Vía in Granada until her teacher dies. Then she has to look for another place to work, as they need the money to be able to eat.

At the age of fourteen, Nieves meets her husband at a party she attends with her sister. At first, her father is opposed to their going and argues many inconveniences, but finally Nieves is able to attend. From that day on, Nieves and her husband start dating. They get married when they are still very young, she is seventeen and he is nineteen. Together, they have four children. 

In 1965, her husband is recruited to perform the Compulsory Military Service, better known as „the militia” in the Sahara desert, in Morocco. From there, he often sends her photographs and letters in which he writes to declare his love and let her know what his situation is. The reality is that he is very hungry because they are given very little food, only a can of green beans to eat and water. So, the first few weeks, knowing her husband’s situation, Nieves decides to send food parcels for him and his companions, but mailing is very expensive and slow. Then, Nieves’ family agrees to send the money from her salary, about two thousand pesetas, that is, about €12 today, so that her husband can buy food there, in the desert, and share it with the rest of his companions. During his stay in the Sahara, he experiences some very bad moments, but also some pleasant ones. For example, at Christmas, where he has a great time singing and dancing with her comrades and friends from the military.

The stay in the Sahara lasts sixteen months. During this time, he is granted a leave of forty-five days to return home. He spends these days working in his mechanic’s workshop, as he needs to earn money to be able to take the plane back to the Sahara. Finally, in September, he finishes his Compulsory Military Service and obtains the corresponding license. 

After everything that happened in the Sahara, Nieves and her husband have the first of their four children and their marriage is happy and lasting until he dies after 50 years together. Now Nieves says she is less happy because she misses her great love very much, but – in spite of this – she feels very fortunate to have the company of her children and grandchildren every day.