Eric

Hockey entered my life in 2004, when I was captivated by the games on TV. I became a fan at a young age, and my passion for the game never faded. After finishing school, I dreamed of figure skating, just to be closer to the ice.

By 2026, my father had become the coach of one of the leading hockey teams. Eric was among his protégés. He immediately noticed me, and one day, when my figure skating partner broke his leg, Eric took his place. My father was furious. He disapproved of my passion for hockey, even though Eric and I had simply talked, never met. Any hint of my connection to hockey infuriated him.

One evening, as we were sitting on a park bench, I felt a light touch on my shoulder. It was Eric. He was holding flowers and candy in one hand. Sitting down next to me, he said:

• You are very beautiful.

I looked away, embarrassed. "Is it because of my father?" I asked, trying to understand why he was saying this. “Not only,” he answered quietly, and his eyes, full of something more than just sympathy, spoke for themselves.