Head Over Wheels

Ulisses is adapting to his new prosthetic leg. More than phantom limb syndrome, what haunts the former Brazilian figure skating promise is the fear of never skating again. To add insult to injury, his parents are getting a divorce and he is facing yet another change, a move to another state, before New Year's Eve. The invite to be the titular character in Antares skating school rendition of "The Nutcracker", for the summer recital, could be a chance to fight his demons and overcome his fear.

Estrela is adapting to her new extended family. Ever since the scandal that took away her privacy for good, when she was only thirteen, the girl has been living with her formerly estranged grandmother. Se can't set foot inside a school without having panic attacks, she has learned to dress in dark colors and to avoid the glances and notoriety her mom's lack of judgement has earned her. The role of Clara in the recital is her chance at regaining her freedom, and getting some attention for the right reasons. Now, all Estrela will have to do is figure out how to handle rehearsals for "The Nutcracker" with preparations for her dreaded 15th birthday party.

What the two skating partners had never dreamed of, was to rekindle old ties, amidst Christmas lights, tapioca sandwiches and rehearsals for the recital. And that the extra something they could find under the Christmas tree tree was the courage to take a leap of faith and land, head over heels, in one another's arms.

Story originally published in Portuguese. Written and translated by Larissa Rumiantzeff