Dinner was surprisingly engaging. Our newfound friends had fantastic stories and shared struggles to regale us with, and I found myself warming up to them quickly. Not a huge fan of networking myself, I was surprised when I offered them my contact info and promises to stay in touch.

But Selena was my real highlight. As long as I'd known her, she was always distant in larger groups. Not anti-social, exactly, but certainly self-contained.

At this dinner, though, Selena shined. She engaged with everyone, delighting us all with her wit and wry humor. She was sarcastic; she was quick; she was nothing short of radiant. I'd never seen Selena so...