The Sigh of the Rink

Harmony Rink was alive with energy. Malle stood there, her bright blue eyes taking in the buzz of skates slicing across the ice, muffled laughter echoing through the chilled air. Her brown ponytail swayed as she turned, capturing the iridescent colors dancing on the frozen surface.

“Ready to conquer the ice, Malle?” called Alexa, her best friend, zipping her jacket.

“Always,” Malle replied, confident yet thoughtful.

In the distance, Felicity lingered, shifting uncertainly, her eyes tracing the icy lines. Malle caught the hesitation.

“Felicity! Come on!” Malle waved, voice warm and inviting.

A nod, shy but grateful, was all Felicity managed, pulling her scarf tighter. The journey of strength was just beginning.

Ripples on Ice

Malle laced up her skates, the cold metal of the skate edges glistening under the rink lights. Her team had already begun to glide across the ice, their movements smooth and synchronized.

Nearby, Juniper, one of their best skaters, confidently spun in her vibrant green jacket—a flash of energy and grace. Her speed and precision caught Malle's eye, as did the expressions of the others watching her.

"She's amazing," Alexa said, awe apparent in her voice.

With a nod, Malle agreed, but her gaze shifted—a stray puck, cast aside from an earlier game, lay on the ice, unnoticed by the others. Felicity, deeply concentrated on observing Juniper, skated right towards it.

In a startling moment, narrowly avoiding disaster, Felicity managed to miss the puck, yet lost her balance slightly, hands flailing.

Malle reached out. "I've got you," she reassured Felicity, gripping her arm gently before steadying her. "Remember, it's not about perfection. Let’s skate together."

Felicity nodded, tentative but willing to try, her gratitude shining through.

As they began again, side by side, Malle realized that to empower her teammate, she'd first need to confront the fears that stood in their way.