Figure Skating Short Story

“There's something magic about figure skating. Something that keeps me from giving up, and that makes me feel incomplete without it. Something that makes me addicted.”

I remembered all the tough practice sessions. The falling and getting right back up. All the tears shed, and the memories made preparing for this moment. All the months spent getting ready, and all the time spent on the ice. All the hard work was worth it for my two minutes performing.

Memories played through my head as I walked backstage. Thoughts of my family, seeing me perform for the first time. Thoughts of my friends, pushing me to do things that I didn't know I could do. All these things added up in my mind, and I knew I was ready.

I stepped up behind the curtains,
the smell of hairspray lingering in the air. As I looked around, I saw coaches frantically running, trying to keep everything in place. I saw costumes hanging on racks, and bobby pins everywhere. Skaters were getting off the ice, looking as happy as can be, and I knew that that would be me when I completed my program.

“I think it's almost our turn”, my best friend, Kimberly, whispered into my ear. That was when the nerves started to sink in. What if I forget the steps? What if I fall? Negative thoughts started running through my mind. When I turned to ask Kimberly if she was nervous too, I looked up and saw the last thing I wanted to see, our cue.

At that point, I didn't have a choice but to turn forward, and put on my brave face. We slowly glided out onto the ice, and got into position. What if I trip? What if I mess up my routine? More and more negative thoughts starting pouring into my head. The music seemed like it would never start, which left me plenty of time to worry.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the music began to blast through the bleachers.
The spotlight shined like the sun onto my group. As we began to do our steps, I looked out into the audience. It only took me a second to spot my family. My mom, dad, brother, grandma, and grandpa, were sitting in the front row, with smiles all the way across their faces. Seeing them watching me made me realize that there was no reason to be nervous. I had been waiting for this moment for months, and it was finally here.

I glided across the ice, hitting every step perfectly. I twirled, jumped, and soared. The music played, and the spotlights shined. The backdrop stood tall behind me, and the bleachers were filled to the end. I was having so much fun. I had never been so happy. I felt so at home on the ice, so free. I never wanted to get off.

The music began to end, and I got into my ending pose. I was holding my hands in the air, right next to Kimberly. I looked over at her, and she was smiling as big as can be, just like me. The music ended, and the crowd roared. I looked at my family. They had jumped from their seats, and were cheering as loud as lions. They looked so proud. It was that moment that I realized that figure skating is not only something I loved, but my passion. I never wanted to stop skating, and I knew that I would continue doing it for the rest of my
life.