Evan left yesterday for his playoff game. He won’t be back for a few days, and even though we’ve spent plenty of time apart before… this feels different. He calls when he can, texts when he can’t, but I still feel the empty space he leaves behind. And the rink feels different too. Not safer. Just… quieter. After Coach Daniels tore into the rink manager, things improved a little. My skates haven’t gone missing again. My schedule hasn’t mysteriously vanished. No more field trips taking over my ice time.
But now? Now I feel like someone is always watching me.
Not in the obvious way, no one lurking in corners or staring from the stands, but in the subtle, prickling‑at‑the-back‑of-my-neck way. Like eyes follow me when I walk to the locker room. Like someone is waiting for me to slip. I try to
