I wouldn't say that anyone has mistaken my identity, although perhaps they have. My uniform gives people a certain impression. I am a Mountie and my uniform is a visible sign of my chosen career, the life I have chosen in fact. Unfortunately it also acts as camouflage. I know most people will be surprised that the red dress uniform of the RCMP can act as camouflage but it does. You see the uniform is all people see, they only see the Mountie. They don’t really see Benton Fraser.
I suppose I don’t actually mind this. So often I think people would be disappointed if they knew the 'real me'. Ray Vecchio is the one of the few people who took the time to see beyond the uniform, his sister however doesn't see me. All Francesca sees is the Mountie. It’s a romantic image but I am afraid I am not the man she thinks I am. I do my duty, I help people but there are sides to me that the uniform doesn’t reflect.
I do feel things. I struggle with emotion sometimes but the uniform masks my deepest feelings to others. I'm glad about that; my camouflage is a strength most of the time. Part of me doesn’t think so though, part of me wants to be more than the man wearing the uniform. I'm afraid I'm not brave enough to step out form the image of the Mountie, and to most people, that is who I am. For now I won't correct them, I shall act my role and be the Mountie confident at least some people know there is more to me than a uniform.