An Ice Queen for sale (Alice)

Chapter 180 Where the road ends

Finally the time came, when we could go on the ice. As I looked around, I realised that probably all of us felt the same way. Somehow, that made me feel a little calmer.

I started warming up, and to hear the people applauded at each jump of mine made me feel better.

After a little while, they officially started the event, and I felt so proud of being a part of it. I started watching the others, but soon I was stopped by Beth.

"Alice, don't anger yourself unnecessarily. They are good, but not as good as you. Actually, you are competing with another four, don't forget that."

I nodded, nervously.

When it was my turn, my heart pounded faster. Gideon kissed my face, and they all wished me good luck.

I took my coat off and gave it to Gareth. After taking a deep breath, I stepped on the ice and I skated around. I jumped a few times, and I skated back to the board. Beth held my hand.

"Alice, pay attention to your Salchow quadruple. That is worth a lot, it can save you. Your Axel is amazing. Skate with sense, show emotions, and land on your feet."

"Okay." I nodded with my head lowered.

"Would you like some water?" Gareth asked, but I shook my head.

"Come on, Alice, this is your big two minutes and forty seconds. Show them what you are capable of, show them what you can do!"

I nodded again, and I let her hand go, as they announced it was my turn. I skated around one more time, and I stopped in the middle. I took a deep breath again, and I exhaled slowly. I took my starting position, and I closed my eyes for a second. Two minutes and forty seconds, seven elements. Come on Alice, you can do this! I told myself.

I opened my eyes when the music started, then I started my program. The crowd cheered loudly when I landed my jumps and I did my spinning. The only thing that I felt was not really right was my triple Lutz and triple Toe Loop combination. I didn't land it nicely, but I wasn't in the risk of falling. After I did my last flying camel spin, and I took my final position, I could not help but smile. The crowd applauded loudly and a few groups, including my family, whistled and shouted my name. I bowed and waved around with a broad smile on my face and left the ice.

Beth hugged me tight, and her happiness was written on her face. Gareth also looked proud of me. I could not go straight to Gideon, but I waved to him. I waved to them. To my family, who stood up and clapped for me.

Beth and Gareth held my hands, and we left to sit down together and await the announcement of my scores.

When I got to hear and see them, I couldn't stop smiling and laughing. I hugged Beth, then I thanked her. She hugged me back. I was ranked as first.

When we could leave, I immediately went to see my family. They all hugged me and told me how proud they were.

"Alice, you are my idol, you know?" Ava hugged me tight. I laughed.

"Ava, this was the short program only. I still have to perform my free program."

"That is nothing for you. You'll get the gold medal."

"Well, I hope you are right."

"I am right." She stated.

In the next few days, I was super excited. I had numerous interviews, and I was happy to see the videos about myself. I had a lot of followers in my social media account, and many people rooted for me. They called me the queen of the ice. I felt thrilled. I have never felt better in my whole life, but I also knew that was not the end yet, so I kept reminding myself I cannot be conceited. I still needed to work a lot to be able to get the gold medal.

Chapter 180 Where the road ends

I trained a lot, and I practised landings. I wanted them to be perfect.

Finally, the big day came, and I found myself standing at the board again, surrounded by my coach, and my family members watched me from close, After warming up, I was ready. I was ready to perform the performance of my life. I knew that this was my time. As I wanted to give up competing afterward, I truly wanted my dream to come true.

I tried to focus with my eyes closed. I thought about my program, every element of it. I knew what I had to listen for. I was clear of my abilities, so as my weaknesses.

When that was my time, Beth helped to take my coat off. I removed the protectors of the blades, and I stepped on the ice. I skated around and I jumped a few times, then I skated back to Beth and Gareth. They both held my hands.

"Breathe Alice! You are a wonderful skater. You can do this."

I nodded.

"Don't forget that this is your time. You were able to get here. You are a true talent, and a master of the art of figure skating. Take a few deep breaths."

She breathed with me three times.

"Good. Now you are off to go."

I looked at her and I nodded, then I let their hands go. When they told my name, the audience cheered, which always made me feel better. I waved to them, and I smiled. I skated around one more time and I went to the middle to take my starting position. When the music started, my heart jumped for a moment, but as I started the performance, I calmed down. I imagined I was on my training; I imagined I was alone in the room, and on the ice.

I was perfectly moved by the music. I landed my quad Lutz successfully, so did my triple Axel. I struggled.with a combination again, but I told myself that's not gonna matter.

I continued like nothing happened. I tried to feel the music, to do the most emotional performance at all times. I tried to keep myself straight like never before, but tried to be grateful and dainty.

The crowd's loud cheering let me know I did my jumps and spins right, and after my last spin, when I took my final position and the music stopped, I closed my eyes. I think my brain let me feel all the emotions of the last few days hidden deep inside me just then. I cannot describe how I felt. I held my head while I was still gasping for air. I bent down and held my knees. A scream escaped from my mouth, which wasn't heard because of the ear-splitting cheer of the crowd. I went down on my knees, and I bent down to kiss the ice, just like I did at the world championship, but this time it was harder to get up.

The first that I could be grateful to God for creating was the tons of frozen water that I kept skating on since I was four. At that moment, I remembered everything. The first time my mum took me to skate, the first contact with this cold material, that always gave me hope to go on. It always calmed me down when I suffered throughout my childhood or in my young adult life. Ice taught me to be persistent, to never give up, to stand up whenever I fall, even if it hurts so badly. I was so grateful for all the suffering like the hundreds of falling, getting up early to train until I could move, for never having a satisfying, nice amount of meal, a dessert containing kilos of sugar, for literally giving my childhood and youth to this sport which always occupied my mind, body and all my free times. I felt like the long and hard road which I walked on since I was four, ended, and for the first time in my life I hoped my mum saw me from above, being proud of me.

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