Setting aside my fears, I made a firm decision.

I was leaving tonight, and somehow I had managed to communicate with Ruth, who assured me she would help me get past the men.

I put on a pair of jeans and one of Silvio's shirts; I wanted to keep a piece of him with me, and this shirt was the only item of his I had taken along.

I wrote a brief note explaining my departure and pleading with him not to come after me, leaving it in his study.

As midnight approached, I knew it was time to go, even though I hadn’t seen him all day, and I...