But the world's reaction was impossible to ignore.
By morning, the documentary had been viewed by over five million people. By the end of the week, twenty million.
Think pieces appeared in every major publication.
"The Morality of Survival: Understanding Isabella Moretti"
"Can Criminals Be Redeemed? The Second Course Model"
"From Trafficking Victim to Crime Boss to Community Leader: A Complicated Legacy"
The responses were, as predicted, polarized.
Half the comments praised me as a survivor who'd transformed trauma into opportunity. Who'd built something meaningful from nothing. Who'd saved lives and created second chances.
The other half condemned me as a criminal who'd hurt people and was now being celebrated for the bare minimum of not being actively evil anymore.
"You can't please everyone," Maria said, reading through responses with me at the restaurant. "You just have to decide which voices matter."
