Chapter 6 – In the Sin Bin
On Thin Ice
November
Amelia
Even though it's early in the month, I'm flying back from the Aurora Skate Masters, one of the many competitions I’ve entered this year. Since June, I’ve competed at least twice a month, consistently placing within the top four. As I gaze out my plane window, the evening sky shimmers with color, soft and endless.
[Flashback]
As always, the venue is cold, so cold. The air bites at my face as I prepare to step onto the ice. I've been moving, staying warm and loose, stretching on the sidelines to stay limber.
I pull my TrueNorth thermal core head mask over my face and secure it. I love this material because it's so thin that it's barely noticeable up close or on camera. The thermal heat-holding nude core suit is layered beneath my sequined red skate dress. From a distance, I look like any other skater, except for the balaclava.
The balaclava is made from the same lightweight thermal material. It's warm and barely there, with an almost sheer, silk-like layer over the eyes and nose that lets me see and breathe easily. It wasn't designed to disguise me, but it does, giving me a bit of anonymity, even though everyone knows me as Jaxson's wife, Mellyn. On TV, in a news clip or sports highlight, I could be skating, and no one would immediately recognize me. You really have to look to notice me. Even so, it does exactly what it's meant to do, keeps me warm, and shields me from the effects of Raynaud's.
As the music begins to pull me forward, I glide from my starting position. I can barely hear theannouncer over the cheering crowd, but it all fades into the background as I focus.
“Next on the ice, representing Canada… Amelia Smith.”
It's second nature to perform this dance. My body feels at one with the smooth surface of the rink. Hitting my spins fast, controlled, without error, my heart thrills. The chill permeates my body, my legs burn, and my fingers begin to sting, but I don't pause. I push, concentrate, and give everything I have to these magical few minutes.
“Nice control on take-off. She's been going strong this season.”
“That's right, Henrik. She's the one to watch. She started in fourth place in the series and took third place, earning bronze, last month in Bratislava, Slovakia, at the International Danube Crystal Cup. Her stats are climbing.”
As the music builds dramatically, I take off into a Biellmann spin.
Perfect! Just glide and spin.
The crowd's cheers swell, and they rise to their feet.
“That move was incredible! She's radiating confidence and making a bold statement here in Oslo, Norway!"
“That she is, Svein.”
[End of Flashback]
The applause and music fade, leaving only the soft hum of the airplane's engines as my thoughts return to the present. I glance down at my chest, brush my fingers over the bronze medal, and smile. It's not gold yet, but it's a step in the right direction.
Reclining my seat, I connect to the in-flight Wi-Fi I purchased with my ticket to browse the sports reports. My name's been popping up in the media more often lately, but fortunately, they haven't linked me to Jaxson yet.
I spot an article featuring a highlight reel of me. Curious, I click on the link, and a video of my short program at the Aurora Skate Masters in Oslo, Norway, pops up. It's the event I just wrapped up. It feels surreal to have it there for the entire world to see, capturing my moments on the ice, which now have a dream-like quality. A sense of pride washes over me as I watch myself, strong and graceful.
The hosts, Ted Shively and Sam Barnhart, run a popular sports talk show calledThe Pulse, which isbroadcast by the internationally renowned TSRN Total Sports Review Nation.
“Ted, we've got a dark horse to watch this year. Amelia Smith is a former Olympic hopeful who twisted her ankle and had to withdraw from the last Olympics. Returning to competition took her some time, but now she appears to be peaking. Her first event in the ISU Challenger Series was the Stars of Ice Invitational in Nice, France, where she placed fourth…”
As the commentator drones on, a graphic listing my recent competitions, scores, and placements appears on the screen. At the bottom, a blue bar displays the headline:Amelia Smith: Rising Star of the Figure Skating World Returns to Form.
“…and now she's earned another bronze medal in the circuit, in Oslo, Norway, at the Aurora Skate Masters,” Sam finishes.
The screen shifts to show the final moments of my performance. The announcers are nearly shouting, and the crowd is roaring.
“Sam, the fans in France have started calling her the Phoenix because of her comeback and that fiery red skate dress.”
“Ted, things are looking up for her, that's for sure.”
