Dear Reader, My real name is not Thomas O’Lorr. I chose to write this book under a pseudonym to protect the identity of my loved ones. I now live in London, but I was born and raised Romanian. As you might know, homophobia occupies a high position in any statistics in my country, and I found it crucial to keep my identity hidden. I hope you’ll understand. Even though the story is a work of fiction and my imagination had a high input in creating this book, I managed to sew in my reality and past experiences so that you might learn a thing or two from my mistakes. I’m not here to advise you on how to live your life. I’m just telling the story of Thomas, the man how wanted freedom. You might wonder why I have chosen the name Thomas O’Lorr, but couldn’t think of a better one to rhyme with “Oh, Lord!” I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I did writing it, and if you do, feel free to share it with the world! Best wishes, Thomas O’Lorr