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Yaroslav was the hottest coach in ice dance at the moment, a former Russian cha winners and pleasing the judges Training sites rose and fell, with all the top tea from Detroit for some years, then Montreal, and now Hackensack, New Jersey

“He said, and I quote, ‘This can defeat you or you can rise like phoenix’ So we’d better get feeling sorry for ourselves out of our syste”

I snorted “I a Yaroslav to be sy sorry for ourselves We were allowed tofor a night The thought of training in themy stomach “Did you throw up?”

She exhaled hard, the air tickling my neck “I tried not to”

“It’s not your fault” This concussion was brutal Some days she just couldn’t keep food down

“I should be better by now”

“It’s not your fault” I should have caught you “Did you eat tonight? I’ll make soup”

“I’ry”

“I’ soup anyway”

“Okay”

I kept the light in the kitchen low as I warmed up the bone broth I hated that this damn concussion made her so nauseous and dizzy Some days she seeet out of bed

I brought her the soup, but I was too anxious to eat yetroo the bowl sometimes

Finally, she said, “You’reme dizzy Go run”

Even though I’d finishedup everyone else’s sweat, I laced up again and yanked on gloves and a hat It was a gray, dank night, but there was no snow Too warood

Warm was an overstatement, but compared to Quebec? For sure At ho more layers There wasn’t much wind as I started my usual loop of the suburb The old houses were a little rundown like our apart, but it was fine

Like a punch—bay Pacific with driftwood on the beach Mountains in the distance Slowinghis parents’ car so we could drive up to Whistler Sa up as he laughed Saa

Sam, Sam, Sam

I’d been fourteen when I moved to Vancouver to train with Bree Sure, Montreal would always be home in a way, but I didn’t miss it like I missed Vancouver Like I missed Sam