-Essay- ROME — If only I were able, I could paint a portrait of him. Blond, clear eyes, and an Invicta backpack on his shoulders. Mid-30s. Not particularly tall or thin. I wonder if the image in my head really matches what he looks like. For the latest news & views from every corner of the world, Worldcrunch Today is the only truly international newsletter. Sign up here. I had met his gaze, along with that of dozens of other people, inside a crowded subway car. It was just after 10 p.m., I had finished a journalism workshop, and was heading to the home of a friend who was hosting me in a city …