Valentina stayed until the very end because that was what she did—she saw things through, even when her feet ached and the make-up was starting to settle into lines she didn’t like. By the early hours, the crowd had thinned into a small company that felt less like an audience and more like old acquaintances deciding the night had given them enough and wanted to personally say goodbye. 

All conversations had moved from showy laughter to small talks, hands on shoulders, and thank ...