Page 42 of Chasing Gold, Catching Her

“Mom, did you see?”

She was smiling and the woman laughed softly and stroked her back.

Goosebumps ran over Alisa’s skin at the sight. It was Tora’s mother. They looked so alike, as though someone had simply taken Tora and imagined her older.

Well, of course they did. They were family, what was Alisa even thinking about?

She really needed to rest. She was exhausted, and the fatigue was slowly covering her, settling over her shoulders as though she were carrying an entire mountain on them, although perhaps she was.

Then the reporters swooped down onto the ice like pigeons onto bread crumbs scattered by some crazy woman in the park.

The winners returned to the podium and sat on it, all six of them crowded together, medals still around their necks. The reporters immediately turned toward Alisa and Tora, who were sitting side by side, and Alisa could feel the warmth coming from Tora beside her, absurdly close, and for some reason that tiny thing made her feel calmer.

“So, the question everyone wants answered is for you, Alisa! Are you and Tora absolute rivals on the ice?”

“Or do you support each other? Tora is always looking at you with that smile!”

Alisa and Tora looked at each other.

And they smiled.

“You know…” Alisa began slowly. “Tora has completely broken this stereotype for me that rivals on the ice are supposed to hate each other… I always lived with that idea, but her kindness and openness to the world changed my mind. She’s very supportive.”

“Yes, we noticed how she supports the other skaters backstage.”

“But what do you think, Alisa? Is Tora your friend now, or is she still your rival, now that you’ve won the gold?”

“I think we’re equals now.” Alisa smiled.

Tora immediately burst out laughing.

“No way, baby, you need to win a lot more gold medals before you catch up with me.”

The reporters laughed too, and Tora winked at Alisa, nudging her playfully with her hip.

“Well, we got you today,” Alisa replied, unable to stop herself from smiling wider. “The further we go, the more gold we take.”

“You sound like a real dragon, Alisa, keep that spirit, and with an attitude like that you’ll definitely be sent to the championship in March. So tell us, how do you rate your performance today?”

Lev entered the conversation.

“We did everything we could to win today, but there’s always something to improve, and that’s exactly what we’ll be working on this month.”

“What does your schedule look like? Not even one day off?”

“No,” Lev answered with a little shrug. “We’re entering the finals of the season of 2024/2025, and it’s very important for us to stay in a strong position, especially before the Olympic qualifiers. Of course we can’t know one hundred percent that Alisa and I will be chosen and sent to fight for quotas for the 2026 Olympics, but we still hope for the best, right, Alisa?”

He turned to her, and she nodded with a smile, taking his hand for a moment, and the reporters around them visibly softened at the sight.

Then another reporter slipped between the others.

“You’re so gentle with each other. Tell us your secret!”

“We’ve known each other for a very long time,” Alisa said. “We just feel each other.”

The reporter’s grin widened immediately.

“So are you dating, honestly? You would make such a beautiful couple.”