It's true, the only people who knows about her past, about the things she's done, are the people she's shared it with (and those people aren't many). For once in her life she has a measure of control over how people see her and judge her and that agency has been incredibly empowering. Without it she might not ever have been bold enough to truly explore this thing between them, especially as openly as they have.

"I think it will, this is the first time in a long time I find myself excited about a new year and what might lie ahead."