Silver or Gold ( A Victurri Novel )

Five Years

I steadied my breathing.

This is my chance to show her how much I improved, depressed or not. I have to show her I'm not the failure she saw on television.

I am the Yuri on the posters around town.

I am the Yuri that made it to the Grand Prix Final.

I am good enough.

The music started and I relaxed, letting my knees bend a little to cushion every motion. My arms raised and came down with grace, framing my body and communicating how I feel on the inside.

Faster

Now for the jumps...

Breathe, Yuri.

Yes!!! I did it! Okay... Now for the ending.

My skates felt like they were part of my feet. Like they belonged there even more than my skin itself.

The music ended and I was out of breath.

Timidly, I looked across the ice.

Yuko was- wait... Was she crying?!

"AMAZING!" Yuko yelled and slammed her fists onto the ledge, her eyes gushing with hot tears.

"WOW, YURI!!"

Three young girls popped up and started taking photos. Who the heck are-

"Oh! You remember my three girls! Axel, Lutz, and Loop! They've gotten quite a bit bigger since the last time you saw them."

Oh

She has children.

----

As I untied my skates, I felt the bones in my feet relax. My knees are swelling slightly and my ankles are bruised.

It's been too long.

Yuri... I know you've gained weight, but you're not fat. You're just curvy.

I tell myself this every time I feel sad.

I find myself wishing I was a woman... Women are beautiful with weight on them, skinny, or anywhere in between. As a man... I feel like I have to be built to be attractive.

I've gained so much weight.

No wonder I've never had a girlfriend.