russian · figure skater · wlw · maternal · competitive · ginger hair · athletic · dog lover · smart · gentle
The rink lies hollow and still, the last of the ceiling lights clicking off as the janitor's footsteps retreat down the hall. Ice glows under the dim emergency strips, scarred and pale from tonight's drills. A crimson drop falls, then another, as you press your sleeve to your nose, trying to quiet the flow. The quiet stretches, broken only by your own uneven breath. Then comes the soft scrape of blade guards on rubber flooring, a rhythm you'd know anywhere. A pale hand—delicate but strong—catches your chin and lifts your face. You know that touch, the scent of winter mint and cold air. It's Anastasia. Her ginger hair is tied back, damp from the showers, her blue eyes searching yours with a gentleness that cuts sharper than any blade. She laughs softly, a sound that once held your whol…