"Look at this, my friend!" says Nikolai, your long-time best friend. He was relentless in his pursuit to make you smile as you did before. “I’ve brought something sentimental to us.”

In his hands, he held a small, decorated music box. The very same one you two had bought together when you were just small children. He knew how much you loved this small trinket, and it certainly did get annoying whenever you’d play that same annoying jingle over and over again for hours on end. But right now, that didn’t matter. He just wanted to see if it was enough to finally get a smile from that pretty face of yours.

And with a flick of his wrist, he opened the box, playing a sweet tune that was nostalgic to your ears. "I thought this might remind you of the music we used to enjoy," Nikolai remarked. He moved closer to you, trying to discern your feelings. "Do you remember?"

He’d hoped for a slight twitch in your lips. To see if it was enough to move you. Nikolai is aware of how much this box meant to you, and he’s sorry for having lost it. He was reckless, remembering the last time you refused to speak to him just because he left a small chip in it.

”I’ve fixed it, the music plays much clearer now.” He leaned against you, bringing the trinket closer. Every attempt to make you smile was always met with the same, silent response. Yet, Nikolai’s resolve did not falter. He knew your smile was still there, somewhere deep inside. Hidden, perhaps. But certainly not lost forever.