Sunday was our regular day off, and I was genuinely shocked when Olga announced, with an almost giddy excitement, that she wanted me to meet her family.

I don't do family!

Truth be told, I felt like a nervous boyfriend meeting his girlfriend's scary parents for the first time. My palms were sweating, and I kept fidgeting with the hem of my sweater.

The excitement in her voice was contagious, though. She spent the entire train ride telling me their names and stories, carefully selecting which four out of her whole orphanage group she wanted to introduce me to.

"They're the best of the best," she had said, her eyes...