Thank you for writing this, Elle.

It is a very challenging piece.

I have a couple of memories I’d rather don’t have.

I don’t know if to recount those experiences here does any good but let’s say I have a history of cowardice.

I was going to tell you about the time in the Philippines in which I saw men who in my opinion were ill with liver disease (in my mind I was wondering alcoholic cirrhosis or HCV?) going with sex workers of undetermined age in a country were you don’t see many old people.

Maybe it starts with realizing my guilt by association.

Also with realizing I have allowed others to exploit me and abuse me as well. Not to use it as an excuse, but how often do we go through life trying to keep a peace that only perpetuates the war the coward wage in the hope we don’t confuse peace with fear.

And like a friend said, the beast is an idea, so then is an idea the tool will use whenever we have to choose between fear and silence, and we’ll hopefully choose to talk.

Thank you for writing.

Pablo