The sound of Cass’s footsteps faded, leaving Alex alone on the rink. He sat there for a moment, staring at the empty ice, letting the chill seep through him. It used to be so simple—hockey, skating, his friends. But now, it was all tangled up, with Cass, with pressure from Coach, with his own expectations gnawing at him from the inside.
He grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder, making his way out of the rink. His head felt heavy, like it was packed full of everything he couldn’t put into words.
As he stepped outside, the cold evening air hit his face, jolting him awake. The parking lot was mostly empty, just a few cars scattered around. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and for a moment, he considered ignoring it. But when he glanced at the screen, he saw it was his sister, Maddie.
Maddie: Where are you? Dinner’s in like 10 minutes.
He sighed, typing out a quick response.
Alex: On my way.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see Maddie—his sister always had a way of grounding him when things got overwhelming—but the thought of going home and pretending everything was fine was exhausting.
He walked the rest of the way to his bike, kicking at a stray piece of gravel. The streetlamps flickered on as he rode through the quiet neighborhood streets, the wind biting at his cheeks. His mind raced, replaying the conversation with Cass, the sharp words from Coach, the weight pressing down on him from every angle.
When he got home, the house was warm and full of the familiar smell of dinner cooking, but it didn’t do much to settle the unease in his chest. Maddie was sitting at the kitchen table, scrolling through her phone, her brown hair tied up in a messy bun.
“Finally,” she said, glancing up as he walked in. “I thought you were going to miss dinner.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?” Alex muttered, tossing his bag onto the floor by the stairs. He grabbed a glass of water, trying to act like everything was normal.
“Rough practice?” Maddie asked, her tone gentle but curious. She knew him too well to let things slide.
“Yeah. Coach was on my case again,” he admitted, sitting down across from her.
Maddie nodded, setting her phone down and folding her arms on the table. “He’s just pushing you because he knows you can handle it. Don’t let it get to you.”
Alex let out a long breath, staring down at his water. “It’s not just Coach, Maddie. It’s everything. Hockey, school, Cass… I feel like I’m drowning.”
She tilted her head, her hazel eyes softening with concern. “Cass? I thought you two were good.”
“We are. I mean, we’re trying,” Alex said, running a hand through his hair. “But it’s like every time I start to get things right, something else falls apart. I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.”
Maddie frowned, leaning forward. “You don’t have to keep it all together by yourself, Alex. You’ve got people around you who care, you know? Me, Cass… Mom and Dad. You don’t have to do it alone.”
He knew she was right, but hearing it didn’t make the weight any lighter. “It’s just hard. I don’t want to let anyone down.”
“Hey, you’re not letting anyone down,” Maddie said firmly. “You’re doing your best, and that’s all anyone can ask.”
Before Alex could respond, their mom walked into the kitchen, her apron tied around her waist. “Dinner’s ready! Come grab your plates.”
The conversation was cut short as Maddie got up to help, and Alex followed suit, grateful for the distraction. But even as they sat down to eat, the knot in his chest remained, tightening with every passing moment.
YOU ARE READING
Edge Of The Ice (On Going And Own Book)
Ficção GeralAlex Rivera, a 15-year-old trans boy, pours his heart into hockey, using the ice to escape the constant pressure of proving himself-both to his team and to the world. For him, the rink is a battleground where he fights to be seen as strong, capable...
