“Come, I have something for you.” His eyes twinkled mischievously as he took her hands and led her towards the back work room, housing various medical supplies.  He hummed busily to himself as he rummaged inside a cardboard box stacked against the wall.  

Lena leaned against another precariously stacked column of boxes, her gaze distant in thought as she felt for her necklace again.  In rare moments, her mind always managed to wander towards the memories of him.  Of her past so closely intertwined with his, even now more importantly than ever.

“Aha!  Here it is!”  A muffled but triumphant voice rang out.  

Lena snapped out of her reverie and watched as Dr. Nikolaev walked briskly to the other end of the small closet where a small desk was cleared for the mysterious item in his hands.

Lena curiously looked over his shoulders as he carefully unwrapped the small item from the layers of tissue papers.  She gasped with wonder at the small circular porcelain box lined with gold and silver.  He opened the small box, revealing a small turning ballerina, a bittersweet tune playing for it.

“Consider it an early birthday present from the wife and me.”  Dr. Nikolaev pressed into her hands.  

Lena couldn’t refuse as she stared at the little ballerina, forever frozen in a graceful pose.  Her lithe body was perfectly aligned, her head tipped back to touch the long leg lifted in midair.  

“There is beauty beyond every sorrow.”  She murmured, reading the inscription on the inside of the cover.  He solemnly watched her gaze in wonder at the small ballerina and he felt his heart constrict in pain and pride for the one he has come to feel like his own daughter.  

Lena held it closely to her as she stared wordlessly at him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.  

Dr. Nikolaev fondly patted her shoulder.  “We are all very proud of you.  I hope that you allow yourself to feel some pride for your own accomplishments as well.” 

Lena wanted to thank him but at that moment, they both heard the unmistakable clicking of the Director’s heels.

“Dr. Nikolaev?  Lena?  Hello?”

Dr. Nikolaev was the first to step out of the room while Lena carefully rewrapped the precious gift and placed it on top of the shelf.  She glanced one more time at the gift, a smile on her lips, before returning to the main part of the laboratory.

“-and Lena can re-check the calculations?”  

Lena’s ears perked in interest, hearing the Director finally exercise the caution she had been insisting.  She turned around the corner to find Director Lee watching the monitor, nodding his head attentively as he listened to Dr. Nikolaev.

“Good, then the unveiling starts in ten minutes.” The Director happily announced, smiling brightly at Lena who could only manage a weak smile in return.