Act Two

XXV

Mentions of fighting and toxic relationships are present in this chapter. Read at your own risk.

In the middle of the night, an idea sprung in Yakov's constantly running mind. For the past few weeks, he's been trying to come up with a way to get his student Yaletha in competitions, however with her being unable to hear, it would prove difficult to follow a routine. Until last night, laying in bed half asleep, it hit him. Sure, he would have to practice with her for hours on end, but the outcome may be worth it.

At the rink, he is quick to find Anna sitting beside her daughter, patiently watching the young girl lace up her right skate. Hearing someone approach, her dark eyes trail up to see the coach now in front of her. "I have an idea." Is all he has to say to gain Anna's immediate interest. It does not take much from him to get her listening. "Go on." The shorter blonde keeps her focus steady, eagerly waiting to be enlightened. "I think I might know how to help Yaletha-Levovna get into competitions."

Finding themselves inside the rink, Yakov skates back across the ice towards Yaletha and her mother near the barrier, holding a cassette in his hand. Coming to an abrupt stop, ice shards fly and hit the wall, collecting on the side of his blades. Then, holding up the cassette, he shows the two females. "I want to try something out. I'm going to play this and turn the volume up pretty loud." Yakov turns his attention to Anna who signs to Yaletha. "Then what?" Anna asks, resting her gloved hands on top of the barrier. "She might be able to feel the music's vibration through the ice and her skates." He explains with a hopeful expression. After reading her mother's quick hands, the light-blonde girl beams with excitement, turning towards her coach again with a wide smile. With a reaction like that, he really does hope it works and that it won't disappoint her too much if the idea is a failure.

Setting up the cassette, the coach turns up the volume, waiting with an increasing heartbeat. He is beyond anxious to know if it works or not. Mentally crossing his fingers, his eyes stay glued to Yaletha as she stands still, completely zoned-in as she ponders. "Come on..." Yakov whispers to himself as the piano to Morceaux de fantaisie, Op. 3 gradually becomes louder. This in itself feels like watching a routine at a big competition, nearly stressing him out with nerves. "Come on..." He whispers beneath his breath again, searching for any sort of sign to hint at her ability to feel the music. He will feel like the biggest fool for having brainstormed this bizarre idea for it to go to waste and not have a back-up plan.

Then, there's something. A sudden change in expression. Anna sees it too, eyes nearly doubling in size when she sees the slight difference in Yaletha's face. Whipping her blonde head around to face her mother, she grows a smile when their eyes meet. Just before either adult can react in triumph, their attention shoots over to a corner of the rink, spotting a man walking away from the doors. Realization strikes. It was only a janitor coming into the rink. Yaletha only felt the doors slam shut. Mood dropping, the coach slugs himself over to the deck to pop out the cassette, tossing it back into the drawer underneath the shelf. So much for that idea.

Now what? Think!

As Anna returns her gaze to Yaletha, she quickly glances past her shoulder to spot Yakov sit down on the platform, the ends of his blades stuck in the ice with his toes pointing towards the ceiling. Hunched over his knees, he files through his brain to figure something out and fast. He cannot fail Yaletha. She's been nothing but eager to go farther and be even greater. Much like him at that age. He cannot disappoint a younger version of himself, not when she's already struggling and has less of an advantage.

Think of something!

The music wasn't loud enough, but a competition won't allow concert level volume. If only there was a way for her to feel the music- there! Perking up at the possibility of a new plan, the coach quickly pushes himself up, returning to the cassette deck. He was careless before to toss the cassette back, but now he's rifling through the drawer to fish it out, fumbling to get it into the deck and play again.