Ciao Roma

The pessimists who have finished reading this blog might think:

1. He’s a monster and a coward
2. His realization and honesty are “too little, too late.”
3. The Agency will hunt him down and kill him for exposing them
4. F**k the Agency, Henrietta will kill him in his sleep when her drugs wear off.
5. Read between the lines--he definitely nailed her.

But I’m counting on the optimists among you who will realize:
1. I am a victim, too.
2. It’s never too late to right a wrong OR to question authority.
3. Henrietta and I are black ops professionals and can hide indefinitely.
4. The Agency may have brainwashed her but Henrietta’s humanity and compassion remain. She’ll recover and she’ll forgive me.
5. You know I could never take advantage of her. The undercurrent of sexuality and exploitation in my story is there to challenge our complicity with the human trafficking industry and the child soldier phenomenon.

Events of late are persuading me to go more deeply under cover so this will be my last post for a while. I’m uneasy because the landlady at our Pension suddenly started asking questions. Why isn’t Henrietta in school? Where is her mother? I see a violin case so why don’t I ever hear her practice?

And, did you read the comment left by Caterina/Franca? I’m a little spooked by getting comments on my posts from a former enemy agent/terrorist bomber. Henrietta and I were right there, at the Messina Bridge and barely escaped when Franca’s explosives detonated. She claims she’s had an epiphany and she hopes “we’re in a safe place.” Yeah, right.

I need a place to land. Does anyone have a suggestion about where we should hide out for a while? I hear that the southwestern United States, New Zealand, and Thailand are all places where people can disappear and just live quiet, anonymous lives.

Please email me (josefratello74@gmail.com), write on my wall on Facebook (Jose Fratello) or use the comment function here to post your ideas about a place with low population density, mild climate, and light law enforcement. Thanks.

Even when we do find a place to hide, I have no illusions about our future. A “normal” life for Henrietta and me will always be impossible but I’m trying to stay optimistic. After all, who among us has a normal life?