A Special Gift

"Hey…You know you don't have to request my help. I would have helped anyway, even if you didn't ask. But I am glad you told me instead of dealing with this all on your own like before. I had no idea things were this bad. I just saw how normal life was outside but who knew these things were happening in the darkness," Viktor said as he gave her a warm hug while realizing how bad Taya must be feeling right now.

He knew he couldn't get rid of the guilt she must be feeling right away, but he thought of something that might cheer her up, "Listen…I have something special to give you as a gift that would make you feel very happy. I didn't return empty-handed after such an exciting journey."

Umila squinted her eyes, wondering what it was. But she felt it must be something good for Viktor to tell her like this.

And just as Viktor expected, Taya's mind momentarily got pulled away from her heavy thoughts as she looked at him with wet eyes, "A-A gift? Wha…What is it?"