Introduction

Freedom is one of those ideas we often take for granted—until the world we know falls apart. In Free, we’re taken deep into the experience of growing up in Albania during the seismic shift from communist dictatorship to capitalist democracy. But this isn’t just a political history—it’s an emotional journey. Seen through the eyes of a girl raised in a regime that promised everything yet delivered little, it shows how the definition of liberty can swing wildly depending on where you stand. The collapse of one system and the arrival of another didn’t bring the clarity people expected. Instead, it exposed new contradictions and new uncertainties.

Now begins the story of how freedom can be shaped by silence, defined by secrets, and challenged by choice—and what happens when the promises of liberation don’t match the reality.

Summary

Free reminds us that freedom is rarely what it seems. The Albanian experience teaches us that liberation isn't a triumphant endpoint but a continuous negotiation between external circumstances and internal truth. It’s not a final state or a universal ideal—it’s something we struggle with, define for ourselves, and often stumble through. Whether inside a dictatorship or a democracy, freedom is shaped by silence, by choices, and by the stories we’re allowed—or brave enough—to tell.

Childhood in a Closed World

To be a child in a tightly controlled regime is to live in a curated reality. Everything seems certain. In 1980s Albania, a child’s world was filled with slogans, songs, and statues. The system offered stability, predictability, and a strong sense of belonging. It felt safe—not necessarily in an emotional sense, but in the way a walled garden is safe from the outside. There were no confusing options, no contradictory messages. The government provided your education, defined your ideals, and...