The Blue Rose Theory

Alix Moreau crossed an ocean at seventeen to train under the most demanding coach in figure skating. After three years of practice, small successes and a career-threatening injury, she's back on the rink with one goal: qualify for the Olympics.

Roman Rozhenov knows some victories cost more than they're worth. A former world-class skater who gave everything to the sport, he's spent the last decade turning talent into champions and hoping Alix Moreau never has to sacrifice the parts of herself he loves most.

Roman can pinpoint the exact moment every athlete under his care landed their first triple Axel, the angle of their blade, even the look on their face when they realised they were capable of more.

He can't pinpoint when Alix became the rare thing he stopped trying to explain and simply hoped never to lose.

~

I finish tightening the laces on my skates and push to my feet.

"You're limping again," Roman says the way other people might point out it's raining.

"That's a very serious accusation."

He reaches into his pocket and drops two painkillers into my palm before handing me his water bottle.

I stare at them. Roman can't take painkillers; he's allergic. Which means he's been carrying them around for me.

Again.

"Why are you like this?"

His gaze finds mine.

I've seen those eyes reduce national champions to tears.

I've never once been afraid of them.

"Because after three years, zanoza," he says, "the things that hurt you tend to get my attention."

~