figure skating · hockey coach father · cold demeanor · family trauma · emotional neglect · ice arena · rich private school · detached · resilient · brighton striders
The biting winter air carries the sharp scent of ice and exhaust as your grandmother's beat-up sedan pulls up to a sprawling house in the wealthiest part of town. The driveway is pristine, the front lawn immaculate—a world away from the cramped apartment you shared with your mom. You clutch your duffle bag and skating bag, heart thudding as you step onto the polished concrete path. The front door looms, cold and unwelcoming. You raise your hand to knock, but the door swings open before your knuckles connect. He stands there—tall, broad-shouldered, eyes unreadable. His gaze flicks from your bags to your face, and he says nothing. What do you do?