Amanda Knox

15 years ago today, I stared out of an airplane window in shock at the sight of my city, Seattle. I hadn't slept in 48 hours. It looked unreal, like a model train diorama. When the airplane door opened, I was struck by the smell of trees and rain after four years trapped in a concrete box. /thread

For a long time, I thought that my years in Italy were a nightmare that would hang over me forever. But Italy doesn't have to be a nightmare for me. Italy is beautiful. There's a reason I went there to begin with. Ciao Italia.

15 years ago today, I stared out of an airplane window in shock at the sight of my city, Seattle. I hadn't slept in 48 hours. It looked unreal, like a model train diorama. When the airplane door opened, I was struck by the smell of trees and rain after four years trapped in a concrete box. /thread

And I walked through Venice and Milan and Rome, head high.

15 years ago today, I stared out of an airplane window in shock at the sight of my city, Seattle. I hadn't slept in 48 hours. It looked unreal, like a model train diorama. When the airplane door opened, I was struck by the smell of trees and rain after four years trapped in a concrete box. /thread

And I just returned from Italy, where went to see Don Saulo, the priest who held my hand through those years of darkness when my family couldn't.

15 years ago today, I stared out of an airplane window in shock at the sight of my city, Seattle. I hadn't slept in 48 hours. It looked unreal, like a model train diorama. When the airplane door opened, I was struck by the smell of trees and rain after four years trapped in a concrete box. /thread

I am so grateful to be a mom. To have pursued my dream of writing. To have a career and a family and a future.

15 years ago today, I stared out of an airplane window in shock at the sight of my city, Seattle. I hadn't slept in 48 hours. It looked unreal, like a model train diorama. When the airplane door opened, I was struck by the smell of trees and rain after four years trapped in a concrete box. /thread

I watched her chest rise and fall for hours. Around 3 am, Steve poked in to check on us. "You okay?" he asked. "I'm afraid to fall asleep," I said. "I'm afraid I'll wake up back in my cell." "It's not a dream," he reassured me.

15 years ago today, I stared out of an airplane window in shock at the sight of my city, Seattle. I hadn't slept in 48 hours. It looked unreal, like a model train diorama. When the airplane door opened, I was struck by the smell of trees and rain after four years trapped in a concrete box. /thread

She dialed and I talked, and cried, saying hi to all my family and friends, one by one. Steve lost the media, and we eventually made it to a safehouse in Rome. He secured the perimeter and guided us inside.

15 years ago today, I stared out of an airplane window in shock at the sight of my city, Seattle. I hadn't slept in 48 hours. It looked unreal, like a model train diorama. When the airplane door opened, I was struck by the smell of trees and rain after four years trapped in a concrete box. /thread

We skidded to a stop, the driver left, and a new man hopped in the driver seat. He said his name was Steve. He identified himself as a former FBI Special Agent. A moment later, my mom dove into the backseat and we sped into the darkness again.

15 years ago today, I stared out of an airplane window in shock at the sight of my city, Seattle. I hadn't slept in 48 hours. It looked unreal, like a model train diorama. When the airplane door opened, I was struck by the smell of trees and rain after four years trapped in a concrete box. /thread

Back at my cell, I took my family photos and letters. I left most of my clothes and other belongings to my fellow inmates. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to the priest, Don Saulo, who'd become my best friend while inside.

15 years ago today, I stared out of an airplane window in shock at the sight of my city, Seattle. I hadn't slept in 48 hours. It looked unreal, like a model train diorama. When the airplane door opened, I was struck by the smell of trees and rain after four years trapped in a concrete box. /thread

Many of them were Nigerian and Romani. I'd translated their love letters to their boyfriends on the outside, and their medical issues to the Italian prison doctor. I played cards with them, and rolled out pizza dough with a broomstick with them.

15 years ago today, I stared out of an airplane window in shock at the sight of my city, Seattle. I hadn't slept in 48 hours. It looked unreal, like a model train diorama. When the airplane door opened, I was struck by the smell of trees and rain after four years trapped in a concrete box. /thread

After my acquittal, on October 3rd, 2011, I collapsed in the courtroom, sobbing. The prison guards at my side thought I'd misunderstood the verdict. "You won!" they said. One even told me he'd won twenty euro betting I'd be set free.

Pop quiz: Who first says "It's a trap!" in the original Star Wars trilogy?

Sorry, hun, that's not not this works. You don't get to pop in with a long debunked false accusation used to vilify someone for decades, demand answers in all caps, get told politely you're wrong, then plead kindness, no further engagement. Maybe read the book you claim to have bought.

Two separate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reviews for Cartwheel in EdFringe Review. "Beautifully structured, this very ‘Cartwheel’ functions as an extended metaphor for the entirety of the show:

"So far I haven’t seen anyone who’s actually seen the show denounce it. I think anyone who actually takes the time to listen would have a very hard time doing that."

Two separate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reviews for Cartwheel in EdFringe Review. "Beautifully structured, this very ‘Cartwheel’ functions as an extended metaphor for the entirety of the show:

how to respond to a life wronged, newfound parenthood and volatility when your body enters fight or flight. How do you keep on moving when life feels as though it is upside down?"

Cartwheel reviewed in The National: "Dealing with the trauma of her adult life through comedy could have gone down like a bucket of cold sick, but Knox, evidently a 'theatre kid,' manages to expertly walk the tightrope between harrowing and hilarious...