“Hi, Rhea, it's fabulous to finally meet you officially,” she says, her face beaming with joy as she wraps me in her embrace before I can even take a breath. I stand frozen in place, but only for a moment as I instinctively wrap my arms around her in return. The way she squeezes extra tight almost chokes me with shock, but her lavender scent soothes me. Quite the paradox of sensations.
