Paola Parinetto is the name of a young woman of some thirty years, who at the time of writing has been the partner of another man for fifteen years. She is described by her friends as ‘a girl of good nature’ with a heart of gold, though others doubt her honesty, saying that she often hides her feelings. It is clear from the way she talks and behaves that this woman loves a man. Her words and actions throughout this time have clearly indicated that this is indeed the case and it is apparent from the way the relationship is developing that she is not going to be parting with her lover any time soon. The depth of her feeling for her lover is revealed at regular intervals by the articles written by her in her diaries and it appears that her relationship is developing in the direction of love rather than just physical attraction.
It must be said that at times she seems to have forgotten about herself, allowing the thoughts of her former life as a young woman to colour her views of the men she meets. Some years ago Paola developed a severe stammering when talking about her own experiences as a sex worker. This episode points to the immaturity of her thinking at this early stage of her relationship. It is clear that in order to get through to her partner, she needs to learn how to speak more freely and clearly.
The letters and articles written by Paola reveal a confident woman who is confident about her own identity and talents, but at the same time is full of empathy and appreciation for the partner she is involved with. The admiration she has for her sister and how they support each other are also expressed in these papers. The most revealing aspect of all her letters is the manner in which Paola reveals the most intimate details of her life, relating often to the day-to-day events in her life. It is clear from reading her articles that the young woman is profoundly in love with this older man and their marriage will probably continue for another twenty years, a period in which this writer can’t even begin to envisage her own marriage!