"Rin!"
 
I ran up to her excitedly, utterly brimming with energy.
 
"We did it! All the tests- every single one- came back negative for cancer! I mean, it's rats, not humans. But this is a HUGE step!"
 
She stood by quietly as she always does whenever I'm on a science tangent. Funny how our dynamic switched up. It used to be that she'd go on about things that made no sense to me, while I'd listen and try to understand.
 
"The board is going to approve human testing! I... God, Rin, I think we've done it! I mean, people are talking about the Nobel Prize if this works. So many people can be saved..."
 
My grin toned down just a bit. I reached down and caressed the smooth marble.
 
"...Sorry I was late. I know most people say 'better late than never', but... well, I would have really preferred to have that breakthrough earlier."
 
My melancholy smile never broke. I wouldn't look grim for her again. A drop fell onto the stone. The skies remained clear.