just there, bearing the burden of my loss in a manner I hadn't allowed anybody to do for a while. The muted cheers of the players on the r

carcely raising my voice above a whisper. "Being here,

here, aren't you? You're standing in front of this photo

t. Perhaps it hurt more than words could express, and perhaps I wasn't ready, b

al fog of my mind. "Coach mentioned he might have some photos of younge

ed to the here and now, even though the weight in my chest hadn't completely gone away. Pyo watched me as

d the sporadic smack of a puck against the boards as the players finished their drills, giving the arena a sense of life. With his arms folded over his chest, Coach Kim was standing a

onating clearly above the rink's cacop

ith someone I hardly know felt too intimate and unvarnishe

ut he didn't press. "Good. Now, about those photos-I've got some old ones from when San first joined the

door close to the rear of the rink. The environment, which spoke to years of commitment and history, had a subtle coffe

ing ones in there. San's transformation over the years is remarkable-he's always

rlier; he was much younger, perhaps in his late teens, with shorter hair and a hesitant grin. His helmet was tucked under his arm as he stood clu

fresh out of high school, all raw potential and no discipline. Took a while to get him to

ame more secure with each one. He was as sharp, composed, and as dominant as the great p

" in a gentler tone than I

is by looking at those. San's journey is as much about the

ith interest. "What

on't always make the headlines. He's the kind of guy who doesn't let the weight of the world show, but it's there. T

e I had the guts to ask yet, I took in what he h

t. Although I spoke steadily, the enormity of the task at hand weighed heavily on my tho

he'll appreciate that approach. He's not an open book, but if you're patient

oach, the players were starting to leave the rink, their blades clicking against the rubber flooring. The d

attract attention without any effort, even when he wasn't skating. I was more interested in the few times when his expression softened and his concentration see

my hand. "Thank you for your help today.

constant look. "Good. It'll be a big game for the t

it, yelled after me as I turned to go.

looked over my shoulder to see him observing me, his eyes keen bu

ipped the folder tighter. I said, "I'll think a

rom one of us to the other, his brow furrowing slightly in interest, but he said nothing. The coach's

icy surface was like attempting to go back in time to a past version of myself. However, I couldn't get rid of the impression that Coach Kim's remarks weren't only a suggestion as I went ou

"You okay? Coach kind of thr

I nodded absently. "Yeah,

ormal, but he taunted, "Ab

it was without emotion.

et with the folder cradled against my breast. It has to do with me. Regarding th