"I guess I get that," Veronica says, glancing away to the cake in her hands. "I think a lot of us do that, to be honest. I know I do. I apparently completely forgot my own birthday, but weirdly, I'm not sure if that bothers me or not."

Back home it probably would, in some deeply-seated part of her concerned with order and the status quo. Here, though, all of that stuff seems to go out the window.

"This is really good," she says after swallowing a bite. "Thanks for sharing."