"I don't," Vanya admits. Her smile comes much easier to her, now. "but thank you, again. For the offer and for not - uh - steamrolling me."

It occurs to her how much she feels. This isn't her first schmoozy gala and it won't be her last. What's different is this time, she didn't run to the bathroom to cram some bullshit pills down her throat when she felt any flutter of discomfort. She puts her hand against her chest for a second, as if she can't believe the pulse rushing through her ear is coming from her. A little laugh bubbles up.

This is so lame. She's having a dull, regular experience and she feels like she jogged up three flights of steps.

"Sorry, I--" Fuck, she didn't mean to apologize. Too late now, and she has no idea how that sentence was going to end, anyway.

"I'm Vanya."