Page 198 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

"What about mine?"

"Especially no."

The laughter fades as practice begins. Coach pairs me with Ethan for light passing drills.

No contact. No shooting. Just movement. The puck feels strangely alive against my stick.

For weeks I'd held one at my house, practicing one-handed handling because Annette insisted it would keep my coordination sharp.

Nothing compares to real ice.

Ethan sends another easy pass. I return it. Again. Again. Again.

After a few minutes, he skates beside me.

"You know..."

"What?"

"I was terrified when you got hurt."

I glance toward him.

"Because of the playoffs?"

He shakes his head.

"No."

His voice is quieter now. "I thought if somebody like you could lose everything in one hit..."

He shrugs. "...what chance did the rest of us have?"

I understand, more than he realizes. "And now?"

A slow smile crosses his face. "Now I know somebody like you can come back."

For a moment I can't speak, because I finally understand something Annette has been trying to teach me for months.

Recovery was never just mine. Every person watching was learning something from it.

Coach skates past just then. "You boys planning to finish that drill today?"

"Yes, Coach."

He doesn't break stride. "Good." Then, just quietly enough that only I hear him, he adds, "You've already done more for this team this morning than you realize."

He keeps skating, leaving me standing at center ice with those words echoing in my mind.

Practice ends exactly when Coach promised.

Twenty minutes. Not twenty-one. As I skate toward the bench, I feel almost disappointed.

My body wants another lap. Another drill. Another hour.

Coach notices immediately. "I know that look."

"What look?"