NICOLE

Katie welcomes me into her home warmly, and I'm pleased to see that she looks fine. Her happiness is contagious—I don't think I'll ever meet anyone like her.

"You look great!" she remarks.

"I could say the same about you," I say with a smile.

Katie runs her fingers through her short hair and returns the smile. "I've always been a big believer that you should live your life regardless of the crap going on around you. Why don't you tell me how you've been?"

As she closes the door ...