AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Avery brushed her hair behind her ear and picked up her cell phone. Before she could talk herself out of it, she pulled up her browser and typed “Addisyn Miles figure skater.”
Instantly a plethora of results leaped to her screen. Her eyes widened as she began to read the titles. The interior of the truck seemed to slant at a crazy angle. What was this?
All the titles were nearly the same: “Miss by a Mile(s)”... “Addisyn Miles Falls Short” ... “Harbor Takes Bronze, Miles Devastated” ... “No Olympics for Miles.”
No Olympics for Miles?Avery shook her head in disbelief. What had happened?
Feverishly she jabbed the first article. It opened to show a YouTube video. She held the phone a bit closer and watched as a sports reporter came on the screen.
“After a star-studded career, it looks as if Addisyn Miles won’t get the one thing she wants.” Footage began to roll of Addisyn skating, gliding over the ice in perfect time.
“Despite her relatively late training start, analysts predicted that Miles would secure an easily earned and well-deserved position on the U.S. Olympic Team, with numerous victories under her belt. Having begun by making a strong showing in the U.S. Junior Championships, Miles advanced to...”
When had Addisyn become such an accomplished skater? So beautiful and powerful. Despite the reporter’s ominous words, Avery couldn’t help but smile.Addisyn, I hope you knew how proud I was of you. How proud I’ll always be. No matter what happens.
“Miles and coach Brian Felding became a power duo set to take the world of U.S. Figure Skating by storm. A medal of any color at this year’s Sectionals would have been enough to secure a place for Miles in the upcoming round of competition. Unfortunately, Miles failed to reach the medal stand by only three hundredths of a point, losing the pewter medal to Sheila Harbor in an emotional moment. Harbor, a native of...”
Avery did not care where Sheila Harbor was from. She was riveted on the screen. Three hundredths of a point? A willowy blonde girl—apparently Sheila—grinned at supporters, catching flowers that fell on the ice.
The scene abruptly changed to a shot of Addisyn herself. Glitzy outfit. Sparkling makeup.
And sobbing.
“Addisyn Miles, we know that failing to medal here could have disastrous effects on your career. How are you feeling right now?” The reporter shoved his mic into her face.
Addisyn’s eyes looked glazed, as if she’d been slammed on the head and hadn’t yet registered how badly injured she was. Her words were so distorted by sobs that Avery could just barely make them out.
“I left everything I have on the ice. There’s nothing left.” She began crying harder than before, then wheeled and darted away from the nosy reporter.
Avery didn’t realize tears were running down her own cheeks until she looked up from the video. She laid her phone down gently and buried her face in her hands. A dozen emotions swirled through her mind. Amazement—sadness—empathy. But most importantly, anger. At herself.
How could she have used the mountains as an excuse? Hidden from the one person who needed her—who had always needed her?
She gazed with distracted eyes at the busy street. Cars were darting here and there. Pedestrians scurried in swarms down the sidewalks. A plane rumbled overhead, a tiny triangle of silver, on its way to Denver International Airport.
Somewhere in that crazy insane world was her sister—wandering, lost and broken. Somewhere she was hiding, just like Avery was, nursing her wounds and trying to find something to hang onto.
Avery pressed the heels of her hands hard into her eyes and started the car’s ignition. She pulled out into the stream of traffic and began driving again. The research had taken longer than anticipated. She was probably going to be late for work. That was okay.
But in the midst of the confusion in her mind, something was becoming clearer:
She’d now let Addisyn down not once, but twice. And she could stand still no longer. She had to act, and act fast.
Before her sister’s soul was gone for good.
“MORNING, MIZ AVERY.”
Avery quickly summoned a smile. “Morning, Laz. I’m sorry I’m a little late.” Her detective venture by the side of the road had put her ten minutes behind her normal schedule. “How are you today?” She peeled off her jacket and brushed her hair back.
“Purty darn good.” Laz nodded reflectively. “And you?”
“Oh...” Avery smiled feebly. “I’m okay. Good,” she amended quickly, since Laz was not the kind to politely refrain from asking,Why just okay?
“Hm.” Avery could feel Laz’s eyes on her as she made her way to the back room to hang up her jacket and grab her name tag. She tried to appear just as happy as normal, but when she entered the storage area, it was a relief to not have to assume that perky façade—at least for the few minutes she’d be in there.
Skating is my heaven, Avery.Addisyn’s sweet voice floated through Avery’s mind. She remembered the day Addisyn had told her that while they were taking a Sunday afternoon walk through Central Park. “If I didn’t have skating—” Addisyn’s face had suddenly assumed an uncharacteristically melancholy expression—“I don’t know if I’d make it. Sometimes.”
Avery knew her sister was right. Skating had been a release for her, a way to untangle the knotty emotions her unconventional childhood evoked. So how was Addisyn possibly coping without her passion? If the date on that news report was to be believed, it had now been about eight months that Addisyn had been off-ice. What was she doing—and where was she doing it?
