The Promise

CHAPTER TWO

The First Pair Of Skate

I couldn't sleep.

No matter how tightly I closed my eyes. Every time I did, I saw the skating rink again.

The lights.

The music.

The girl in the sparkling dress.

I rolled onto my stomach and hugged my pillow. "... Grandpa said I can learn..." A grin spread across my face.

"...I'm really going to skate." I buried my face into my pillow to stop myself from squealing.

Tomorrow couldn't come fast enough. The next morning... I was already dressed before the sun had completely risen.

I even fixed my own ponytail.

Well...

I tried.

It looked more like a bird had decided to build a nest on top of my head.

I stood in front of the mirror and frowned.

"...Why won't you stay?" After another failed attempt, I sighed dramatically. A knock sounded on my bedroom door.

"Princess?"

"Grandpa!" The door slowly opened. He froze the moment he saw me. His lips twitched.

"...Should I ask?"

I crossed my arms. "It's supposed to be a ponytail."

"It certainly has potential."

"Hmph."

He walked over, smiling as he carefully removed the ribbon. His fingers worked gently through my messy hair.

"Looking forward to today?"

I nodded so quickly my neck almost hurt. "I couldn't sleep."

"I noticed."

"...You did?"

"I heard tiny footsteps outside my room around midnight."

"...That wasn't me."

"It wasn't?"

"...Maybe it was a little." He laughed softly.

"You wanted to make sure today wasn't a dream." I looked down at my socks.

"...What if I wake up and you say we aren't going anymore?"

He stopped fixing my hair. Then gently rested his hand on my shoulder.

"I made you a promise." His voice was calm.

Warm.

"I intend to keep it." Something inside me relaxed.

I smiled.

"...Okay."

"There." He tied the ribbon neatly.

"Much better."

I turned toward the mirror. "...Wow."

"I told you."

"I really can't do hair."

"You'll learn."

"...Like skating?"

"...Just like skating." Breakfast tasted different that morning.

Everything did.

Even the pancakes seemed sweeter.

I kept swinging my legs underneath the chair.

"Eat slowly."

"I am."

"You've already finished."

I blinked. "...Oh."

Grandpa laughed. "I've never seen someone finish vegetables that quickly."

"I need to go skating."

"So vegetables are acceptable now?"

"...Only today."

Less than an hour later. The familiar mall came into view. Only this time...

We didn't stop at the toy stores. Or the bookstore. Or the candy shop.

We walked straight toward the skating rink. My heart started beating faster. It looked even prettier than I remembered. Children were already practicing.

Some held onto the railings. Others moved carefully across the ice. I watched every single one of them.

"...They're learning too."

"They are."

"...Then maybe..."

I looked up at Grandpa. "...I won't be the worst." He smiled.

"Everyone starts somewhere, Princess." Before I could answer...

A woman wearing a navy blue tracksuit approached us. She looked elegant. Her dark hair was tied into a neat bun, and a whistle rested around her neck. She smiled warmly at me.

"So..."

She crouched until we were eye level. "You're Alexandra."

I nodded shyly. "...Yes."

"I've heard a lot about you."

My eyes widened. "...Really?"

She glanced toward Grandpa. "He says his granddaughter has a very determined heart."

I looked at Lolo.

"You said that?" He simply smiled.

Coach extended her hand toward me. "My name is Coach Emilia."

"...Nice to meet you." She gently shook my tiny hand.

"I've been teaching skating for almost twenty years."

I gasped.

"...That's older than me." Coach laughed.

"I would hope so."

"So..."

She stood and gestured toward the rink. "Shall we begin your very first lesson?"

My excitement instantly disappeared.

I stared at the ice. Then at my tiny shoes. Then back at the ice again.

"...Right now?" Coach nodded.

"Unless you've changed your mind."

I swallowed.

My little fingers instinctively reached for Grandpa's hand. He squeezed mine reassuringly.

"...You don't have to be brave all at once."

I looked at him. "...I don't?" He shook his head.

"Just brave enough to take the first step." I slowly looked back toward the ice.

My stomach suddenly filled with butterflies. This wasn't a dream anymore. This was really happening.

Coach Emilia led us toward a long wooden bench beside the rink. Several children sat there tying their skates while chatting excitedly.

Some looked confident.

Others...

Looked just as nervous as I felt. Coach stopped in front of a shelf filled with neatly arranged skating boots.

"So..." She glanced down at my tiny feet. "What size are you?"

I proudly held one foot up. "...This size."

Coach blinked, then laughed. "I can see that."

I looked down.

"...Is that not how you answer?"

Grandpa chuckled behind me. "I forgot to teach you shoe sizes."

"Oh."

Coach crouched before gently measuring my feet. "Very tiny."

"I know." She smiled.

"But not too tiny for skating." A few moments later, she returned carrying a pair of bright white figure skates.

They looked beautiful.

The leather was smooth.

The laces were perfectly tied.

The silver blades underneath sparkled beneath the lights.

I stared at them as though they were treasure.

"...These are mine?"

"For today's lesson."

I carefully picked one up. "...It's heavy."

Coach nodded. "Much heavier than your sandals."

I frowned.

"...How do people dance while wearing these?"

"You'll find out."

I placed one skate on my lap. Then the other.

I looked at Coach.

Then at the skates.

Then back at Coach.

"...How do I wear them?" Coach smiled.

"That's why I'm here." She loosened the laces before helping me slide my foot inside.

The boot hugged my ankle tightly. "...It's squeezing me."

"It should."

"...It doesn't like me."

"It likes you very much."

"No."

"It wants to hug your foot."

"...It's hugging too hard." Grandpa laughed so loudly that even another parent nearby smiled.

Coach tried not to laugh. "Trust me."

"It needs to fit like that."

After tying both skates securely, Coach stood up. "There."

I looked down.

They looked enormous.

I slowly placed both feet on the floor. Then immediately frowned.

"...Why can't I walk?"

Coach folded her arms. "Try."

I took one step.

Clack.

Another.

Clack.

Clack.

My knees wobbled. I looked like a newborn deer trying to walk for the first time.

"Grandpa..."

"...These shoes are broken." He pressed his lips together.

"They're not broken."

"They make funny sounds."

"They're supposed to."

I took another awkward step.

Clack.

Clack.

Clack.

"...I sound like a horse." This time Coach couldn't hold it anymore.

She laughed.

Grandpa laughed.

Even I started laughing. "I'm serious!"

"I know you are," Coach managed between laughs.

"You'll get used to it."

"I don't think so."

"You will."

"I think these shoes don't like children."

Coach gently placed a hand on my shoulder. "Ready?"

I looked toward the rink. The ice suddenly looked much bigger than before.

"...No."

She smiled kindly. "That's okay."

"...Really?"

"Everyone feels scared the first time."

I blinked. "Even the really good skaters?"

"Especially them."

"...Even you?" Coach nodded.

"I fell so many times when I was your age."

I stared at her. "...Really?"

"I cried during my first lesson."

"You cried?"

"Mhm."

"...Then why are you smiling now?" Her eyes drifted toward the rink.

"Because falling wasn't the end of my story." I quietly thought about her words.

Maybe...

Falling wasn't as scary as I imagined.

Maybe.

Just maybe.

Coach opened the small gate leading onto the ice. Cold air brushed gently against my cheeks.

She stepped onto the rink with practiced ease. Then turned toward me.

"Come."

I stared at the smooth white surface. My heart started pounding.

"What if..."

My voice came out smaller than before. "...What if I fall?"

Coach didn't answer immediately.

Instead...

She held out her hand.

Behind me, Grandpa softly squeezed my shoulder.

I turned around.

He smiled.

The same warm smile he'd given me yesterday.

"The first step is always the hardest, Princess."

"...Will you watch me?" His expression softened.

"I'll watch every lesson."

"...Promise?"

"I promise." I looked into his eyes for a long moment.

Then...very slowly...

I reached out and took Coach Emilia's hand. I lifted one trembling foot. The blade touched the ice. A tiny scraping sound echoed beneath me.

Cold.

Slippery.

Different.

I swallowed hard.

Then...I placed my other foot beside it. For the very first time in my life... I was standing on ice.

My eyes slowly found Grandpa.

He was already clapping.

Not because I had done something amazing.

Not because I had won anything.

Just because...

I had been brave enough to take the first step. And somehow...

That made me smile.

The moment both of my skates were on the ice...

I froze. I didn't dare move. Not even a little.

Coach Emilia stood patiently in front of me, one hand still holding mine.

"It's all right."

"...I changed my mind."

She tilted her head. "You don't want to skate anymore?"

I quickly shook my head. "No."

"...I don't want to move."

Coach smiled knowingly. "Those are two different things."

I blinked.

"...They are?"

"They are."

I looked down at my feet. The ice looked so smooth. Too smooth.

"What if the floor throws me away?"

Coach laughed softly. "The floor isn't angry at you."

"...Are you sure?"

"I'm very sure."

I stared suspiciously at the ice. It still looked untrustworthy. Behind the glass, Grandpa covered his mouth. I could tell he was trying not to laugh.

"... Grandpa."

"Yes, Princess?"

"...If I fall..."

He answered without hesitation. "I'll still be here."

"...What if I fall twice?"

"I'll still be here."

"...Three times?"

"I'll still be here."

"...Ten?"

His smile widened. "I brought enough time for ten."

The knot in my stomach loosened a little. Coach gently squeezed my hand.

"Ready to try?"

"...Maybe."

"That's enough."

"First..."

Coach bent her knees slightly. "Don't stand too straight." I immediately copied her.

"...Like this?"

"A little more."

I bent even lower. "...Now?"

"A little less."

I straightened again. "...Now?"

Coach laughed.

"Perfect."

I let out a tiny sigh of relief. "Good."

"Next..."

She pointed toward my feet. "Take a very small step."

"Very small?"

"Very small."

"...Like an ant?"

She nodded. "Exactly like an ant."

I carefully lifted one skate. Just a little. Then placed it down.

Scrraape... The blade slid forward an inch. My eyes became as round as saucers.

"...It moved." Coach grinned.

"It did."

"I didn't tell it to."

"You actually did."

"I did?"

"You pushed it."

I looked at my foot. "...You're listening?" It stayed quiet.

"...Good." Coach bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing.

"Now the other foot." I nodded.

Very carefully... I moved the other skate.

Scrraape...

"...It listened too."

"There you go."

I looked at Coach proudly. "I think they know me now."

"I think they do." Little by little...I took another step.

Then another. They weren't pretty. I waddled more than I skated. If someone had seen me from far away...

I probably looked like a tiny penguin trying to cross the ice. "...Princess."

Grandpa called through the glass. "You're doing great."

I smiled proudly. "I haven't fallen!"

The words had barely left my mouth when—

Whoosh!

Both feet slipped forward. My arms flew wildly through the air.

"W-Wait!"

"I didn't—"

"Aaaah!"

Plop!

I landed right on my bottom. For a second... Everything became quiet. I stared at the ceiling.

"..."

The ice wasn't as cold as I expected. It also wasn't as painful. Mostly... It was embarrassing.

Coach hurried over. "Ali, are you okay?"

I blinked.

Then slowly looked toward the glass. Grandpa looked worried. I quickly raised both thumbs into the air.

"I'm okay!" The worry disappeared from his face almost instantly.

He smiled.

Then...

He clapped.

Coach blinked.

I blinked.

"... Grandpa?" He kept clapping.

"You fell."

"...I know."

"And you stood right back up."

I frowned. "...I'm still sitting."

"Oh." He laughed.

"Then stand up first."

Coach chuckled as she helped me to my feet. Once I was standing again... Grandpa began clapping all over again.

This time...

Some of the parents nearby joined him. Even a few children smiled in my direction. My cheeks turned bright pink.

"...They're clapping because I fell?" Coach gently shook her head.

"No."

"They're clapping because you weren't afraid to get back up." I looked around. Nobody was laughing at me. Nobody was making fun of me.

Instead...

They smiled.

Just like Grandpa.

I looked down at the ice beneath my skates. "...You're not that scary."

The ice, of course, didn't answer. So I smiled anyway.

Then I looked up at Coach Emilia with determination sparkling in my eyes. "...Can I try again?"

Coach's smile softened. "That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say."

And for the rest of the lesson...

I fell.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Until I lost count.

But every single time...

There was always one familiar sound waiting for me beyond the glass.

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

Grandpa never applauded because I was the best. He applauded because I refused to give up. At seven years old... I didn't understand it yet. But years later...

I would realize that those gentle claps were never celebrating my talent. They were celebrating my courage.