Dr. Renard just finished telling Viviane the story of how he and Elise Brillant teamed up twenty years ago to begin research and development of the nascent science of teleportation. Viviane listened wide-eyed and enrapt, never knowing where this fantastic tale would lead next. Twenty-two years ago seemed so distant and unreal to her. Viviane imagined herself twenty-two years ago. She would have only been two years old and too young to understand, much less remember, anything about what was going on in the world around her. Imagining herself as a two-year old and knowing that someday, she would be working in the field of teleportation with the inventor of the technology seemed so far-fetched. Yet, it happened. Dr. Renard continued to reminisce about his time with Elise.

“So that is how Elise and I came to work together several days a week. Even before we earned our Bachelor’s degrees in Physics, we were already embarking on research alongside graduate students. As it sometimes happens with men and women who work closely together, Elise and I developed a concern and fondness for each other that eventually led us to get married. We were husband and wife for only six years before she passed away. And I’ve missed her very much all these years since.”

Viviane never knew, but now could not contain her curiosity any longer. Still she hesitated to ask. “I’ve never asked Anaelle and Marielle, but if it’s alright to ask you, what caused Elise to pass away at such a young age?”

“There’s more to the story I still need to tell you.”

Eighteen Years Ago

The sun shined warm rays into the amphitheater on the campus of the University. A gorgeous blue sky spanned overhead with not a cloud in sight. The smell of fresh mowed grass hung in the air. On the stage of the amphitheater, the school’s professors and faculty dressed in their colorful caps and gowns along with a few, distinguished students lucky to have the honor of being on stage. Sitting out in the amphitheater’s audience were rows of a couple hundred students from the Department of Physics also dressed in cap and gown and behind them, proud parents who some thought they would never see this day come to pass. It was a perfect day in mid-June for a commencement.

A young, twenty-two year old Leandre Renard stepped up to the podium on stage to speak to the crowd.

“Well, we made it, didn’t we?”

The crowd cheered at the thought of their accomplishment. At last, they had made it to graduation day! Sure, some graduated in four years, some in five, but for everyone, it was tough and required a lot of work. It was an event to celebrate and any reminder of their achievement lifted their voices to hollers and cheers. For many of the graduating students, they thought it was the end of a long journey, but for their parents in the audience, only they knew it was just the beginning. After the noise of the crowd died down, Leandre continued addressing the graduating class.

“Now, I know that most of you are thinking that I’m here to deliver the valediction speech. That I’m here to tell you about the world of opportunities that await us as esteemed graduates of this most prestigious of Universities. That you should be proud of your achievements and we should all give ourselves a well-deserved ‘pat on the back’ for all our late nights of study, for our hard work in the labs and for passing our extremely difficult final exams.”

The crowd applauded Leandre’s preface to his speech.

“However, I will do no such things today! In fact, I am not going to tell you how wonderful you all are. I’m not going to say that your futures are bright and full of opportunity. I’m not going to congratulate any of you on a job well done and I’m certainly not going to try and convince any of you that you deserve any satisfaction for making it to graduation today!”

The crowd murmured with confusion. Why was Leandre Renard disparaging their achievements? It should be a happy day for graduating seniors and their parents. Was this some kind of bad joke? In his short time at the University, Leandre Renard distinguished himself as the smartest, most talented and most ambitious scholars in a very long time to have walked these halls. Some of the faculty called him “genius”. Most of the student body called him “genius”, too.

“Yes, I can tell you’re wondering why am I saying this? Why at commencement of all times and places? I am saying this because it is not my job to tell you all the happy things you want to hear. It’s not my job because for our graduating class this year, I am your Salutatorian!”

A veritable gasp rang through the crowd! Leandre was number TWO! Who then, was the number one ranking student of this year’s graduating class???

“So it is my job to introduce the Valedictorian who will tell you all those things. It is my great honor and privilege to introduce to you all your true Valedictorian. The first female Valedictorian ever in the history of the Department of Physics and my fiancé, Elise Brillant!”

The crowd, realizing they had been fooled, nonetheless roared its approval of Leandre’s deception and roared its approval of Elise Brillant, their true Valedictorian and number one.

Elise stood up from her seat on the stage with all eyes on her. The faculty of the Department, along with the student body, applauded her accomplishment as the first female Valedictorian. All agreed that she earned it. Elise had to wipe away the tears from her eyes as the enormity of her historical achievement weighed on her and she was overwhelmed at the approval and support she received from everyone. She stepped up to the podium to speak presumably to deliver the valediction speech where she would tell the graduates how wonderful they were, where she would tell them that their futures were bright, and where she would tell them that they deserved all the credit of their hard work and study.

Truth be told, it was all that extra credit she did which put her ahead of Leandre. He watched Elise give her speech to the students, parents and faculty and he smiled not at all slighted at being second to her. She proved that a woman could be just as good at math and physics as a man if not better. She broke a barrier that day, not just for herself, but for all women who would come after her.

The sun shined warm rays onto Elise as she stood at the podium. A beautiful blue sky spanned overhead. Her soft, sienna-brown hair flowed in the light breeze.