Gilbert Cruz

How old do you think you were when you realized it was a prison of sorts?

How old do you think you were when you realized it was a prison of sorts?

Did you have other female friends who you could sort of talk to about this? Not about this, no. This is not great. What's going on here? We got to break free. No, no.

Did you have other female friends who you could sort of talk to about this? Not about this, no. This is not great. What's going on here? We got to break free. No, no.

That must have been so exciting. I mean, how? It was fascinating. How was it to find a place that you felt finally?

That must have been so exciting. I mean, how? It was fascinating. How was it to find a place that you felt finally?

So early in your career, you were a journalist. You worked for this magazine, Paula, as well as several other places. And the story goes that you met one of the most famous Chilean writers of all time, the great Chilean poet.

So early in your career, you were a journalist. You worked for this magazine, Paula, as well as several other places. And the story goes that you met one of the most famous Chilean writers of all time, the great Chilean poet.

And he said, Isabel, maybe this is it for you.

And he said, Isabel, maybe this is it for you.

Let's just take a step back. You're in the home of this literary genius, and he tells you something that to most people would be crushing. I was crushed, too, of course.

Let's just take a step back. You're in the home of this literary genius, and he tells you something that to most people would be crushing. I was crushed, too, of course.

But you did not listen to him at the time.

But you did not listen to him at the time.

You had to go to Venezuela because there was a military coup. What was the moment you knew it's time for me to go?

You had to go to Venezuela because there was a military coup. What was the moment you knew it's time for me to go?

How did you explain it to your children?

How did you explain it to your children?

After the break, Isabel tells me about the years she spent writing daily letters to her mother.

After the break, Isabel tells me about the years she spent writing daily letters to her mother.