- 10 hours ago
Lost Her On The Ice, Now He Was Begging - Full
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I'm sorry Maiev, my coach said, but the final roster has been confirmed. There wasn't a mistake.
00:05I stood outside the office for almost five minutes, staring at the sheet taped to the board.
00:11My name was gone. Under the skating training grant, where Maeve Sullivan should have been
00:16was Lila Voss instead. My first thought was that there was something wrong with the roster.
00:21Then I realized Silas did that. When I found him, he was leaning against his car,
00:26scrolling through his phone. He saw me, but didn't even straighten up. Just flicked the ash off his
00:31cigarette and squinted at me through the smoke, he said, before I could even open my mouth.
00:36Lila's family is broke. She doesn't get the grant she's done. You're strong. You can fight your way
00:40through sectionals. That grant comes with a full ride to the Olympic Training Center. You know what
00:46that means for me. You'll figure it out. My voice came out steadier than I felt. I stared at him.
00:52He
00:52was looking everywhere except at my face. Patched into his wallet. Pulled out a black card. Held it
00:58out between two fingers, like he was tipping a valet. Fine. Look, I'll cover your training. Coaches,
01:04ice time, gear, all of it. Consider me buying the spot off you. Are we good now?
01:10The rain started. I look at the card in his hand, then at his face. He used to tell me
01:14that as long
01:15as I trained hard, I could leave my terrible family and realize my dream of competing in an
01:20international skating event. So to get better training, I practiced hard and worked part-time
01:25at the skating club in my spare time. But ironically, he was putting a price tag on my dream now.
01:30I turned around and started walking. His voice cut across the parking lot.
01:34Are you serious now? You bust your knuckles in that club's shop. You've been hustling for money
01:42your whole life. I'm handing you more than you'll ever see. And you want to play noble?
01:48I stopped and turned my head, just enough to see him through the rain. Many years of something
01:54I'd thought was untouchable, and it had rotted through all at once.
01:59Sure, Silas. Think whatever you want.
02:02By the time I got back to the skating club's shop, my phone was buzzing.
02:08Maeve.
02:08Tell me I'm reading the roster wrong. Tell me Laya's name is not where yours should be.
02:12You're reading it right.
02:14That's Silas. That has to be Silas. Did you talk to him?
02:17I leaned against the back counter.
02:20I just came from him.
02:21Looking at the row of skates lined up for sharpening, my hands were still wet.
02:25He offered to pay for the rest of my skating career.
02:28Said he was buying the spot off me.
02:30That entitled piece of shit. Tell me you threw it back in his face.
02:35I walked away.
02:36Maeve.
02:37You have to fight this. That grant is yours. Do you have any idea what you went through to earn
02:43it?
02:43The all-night training. Your dad?
02:46It won't do anything.
02:48What do you mean it won't?
02:50His family, the Kensington's, endowed the training grant, Bree.
02:54They built this rink.
02:57If they pull my name once, they'll pull it again.
03:00She was quiet again.
03:01Oh, I saw Lila's Instagram story just now.
03:03Silas booked out the whole restaurant to celebrate her nomination.
03:07Maeve.
03:09Fine.
03:09Fine? That's it?
03:11I have to go. Customer just walked in.
03:12I hung up before she could say anything else.
03:15The next morning, I went to the training center to file the skating sectional's paperwork.
03:19I was halfway down the corridor when I saw them.
03:21Lila spotted me first.
03:24Silas, I'm scared.
03:25He stepped in front of her like a wall.
03:27Maeve, don't start.
03:29I went to walk around him.
03:31He caught my wrist.
03:32What is your problem?
03:34Lila didn't do anything to you.
03:35None of this was her call.
03:38Why do you have to make a scene?
03:39I yanked my arm back.
03:41Let me go.
03:42People in the hall were starting to look.
03:44Lila's eyes filled up right on cue.
03:46She slipped out from behind Silas and took a step toward me.
03:49Maeve, I'm so, so sorry.
03:53I never meant for any of this to happen.
03:55If you need to hit someone, hit me.
03:57I deserve it.
03:58She came closer with her chin raised.
04:01Silas grabbed her around the waist.
04:03Look at her.
04:05Look at what you're doing to her.
04:07I never thought you could be this cruel, Maeve.
04:10The whisper started.
04:11That's her.
04:12The skating club's part-time girl.
04:14Wait, isn't she the one who lost the grant?
04:16Lost it to Lila, yeah.
04:18Honestly, look at her face.
04:20Total ice queen.
04:21No wonder he got tired.
04:23Lila's literally an angel.
04:24I'd pick her too.
04:25I didn't look at any of them.
04:27I kept my eyes on Silas.
04:28I said let me go.
04:30He didn't move, but shoved me.
04:32I stumbled back and hit the row of lockers behind me.
04:34My shoulder blades cracked against the metal.
04:36I stayed there for a second.
04:37My back against the lockers, looking up at him.
04:40He was looking right back at me.
04:41There was nothing in his face.
04:43We grew up together.
04:43He was 10 when his family sent him out from New York.
04:46His first week in the town, he picked a fight with three older boys behind the rink, and
04:50was getting his teeth kicked in when I came around the corner.
04:53I held up a sharpened blade in my hand.
04:55They ran.
04:56After that, he followed me everywhere.
04:58When a boy at school bullied me, Silas put him on the ground.
05:01Maeve, I've got you.
05:03Always.
05:04We're getting out of this town.
05:05Both of us.
05:06Training center, Olympics, the whole thing.
05:08You and me.
05:09But now he was in front of me, with another girl tucked against his ribs.
05:13And he had just put me into a wall.
05:15Lila started to cry harder.
05:19Silas, please, let's just go.
05:20It's my fault.
05:22All of this is my fault.
05:24It's not your fault.
05:26None of it is.
05:27He gave me one last look, a warning, and walked her past me down the hall.
05:31I stayed against the lockers until I could breathe again.
05:35The office was at the end of the corridor.
05:37On the way, I passed the featured athlete's wall.
05:40Lila's photo was right in the center, bigger than the others.
05:43I looked at it for a second, and laughed bitterly.
05:47I remembered one night.
05:48I came back to the skate shop after a late training session.
05:52My dad was waiting in the parking lot.
05:54He smelled like whiskey from ten feet away.
05:57Where's the money?
05:58I didn't answer.
05:59I tried to walk past him to the door.
06:01He grabbed my hair and slammed me face first into the side of the building.
06:05I'm talking to you.
06:07Are you deaf in both ears now?
06:09There isn't any money.
06:12Bullshit.
06:12That Kensington kid throws cash around like it's nothing, and you're up his ass 24-7.
06:17You telling me you can't squeeze a few hundred out of him for your old man?
06:21You holding out on me?
06:23Hiding it somewhere?
06:24Huh?
06:24He started patting me down, yanking at my pockets.
06:28I shoved him off.
06:29That was the wrong move.
06:30He kicked me in the stomach so hard, I went down on the asphalt.
06:34You ungrateful bitch.
06:36You're just like your mother.
06:38Trash.
06:38Both of you.
06:39He went looking for something heavier.
06:41A tire iron.
06:42A piece of pipe.
06:43I didn't see what.
06:44That was when Silas' car pulled into the lot.
06:47He was out before the engine stopped.
06:50He put my dad on the ground in two moves.
06:54His hands went over my face, my arms, my ribs.
06:58Where did he hit you, Maeve?
06:59Where?
06:59I couldn't answer.
07:00It's okay.
07:01I'm here.
07:03I've got you.
07:04He didn't go home that night.
07:05He sat on the busted couch in the back of the shop until morning.
07:10The next day, he walked into the police station and didn't leave until they had my dad in a holding
07:15cell.
07:16When he came back, he sat down next to me and said,
07:19I'm taking care of you from now on.
07:21You don't have to worry about anything.
07:23Ever.
07:24I'd actually believed him.
07:26A week before sectionals, our club ran a final mock competition.
07:29Full panel of judges.
07:31Full scoring.
07:32The works.
07:33I took first.
07:34Highest combined score in the group field by almost 12 points.
07:38Lila came in last.
07:40She picked the score sheet off the boards, balled it up, and tossed it into the trash on her way
07:44off the ice.
07:45Doesn't matter.
07:46I got the training grant.
07:48Silas was waiting at the boards with two coffee.
07:51He handed her one.
07:53She lit up at him like she hadn't just bombed in front of the club.
07:57You were beautiful.
07:59I walked past them toward the locker room.
08:01I did not stop.
08:03Maeve.
08:04Maeve.
08:05Hey.
08:06You still mad about the training grant?
08:08I didn't answer.
08:10I get it.
08:11Come on.
08:12Look at her situation.
08:14She needs this more than you do.
08:15You're going to win sectionals in your sleep.
08:18He stepped closer and lowered his voice.
08:20That card I offered you?
08:22It's still on the table.
08:24Anything you need.
08:25Coaches.
08:26Off-season camps.
08:28It's covered.
08:28He thought money was the answer.
08:30He thought money could buy back what he'd already broken.
08:34I don't need it.
08:35There you go again.
08:37His jaw set.
08:38How long are you going to keep doing this?
08:40You know how much you make in a month?
08:42I'm offering you more than you could pull out of that place in your entire life.
08:46Lila skated up behind him and put a gloved hand on his arm.
08:51Simus, don't.
08:52She's just not used to it yet.
08:54She gave me a small, sad, practiced smile.
08:59Maeve, I know you hate me right now.
09:02But I was really, truly out of options.
09:06My stepmom has been awful since my dad lost everything.
09:09I had nowhere else to turn.
09:11Her eyes welled up.
09:12I'd watched her do it for a year now.
09:14In every conversation, she was the victim.
09:17In every room, I was the one making her cry.
09:20Silas said he's going to take care of you.
09:23Okay, then.
09:24Whatever you need, just tell us.
09:27Both of us.
09:28Like she'd already moved into my life.
09:30The corner of my mouth pulled up.
09:32I couldn't help it.
09:33Silas frowned.
09:34What's funny?
09:35Nothing.
09:36Just appreciating the matchup.
09:38You two deserve each other.
09:40Hope it lasts.
09:40His face changed.
09:41I walked past him to the locker room.
09:46Maeve.
09:47Maeve, get back here.
09:49I ignored all his words.
09:51That night, Bree sent me a photo.
09:53Lila's Instagram.
09:54Screenshotted before it could disappear.
09:57Lila and Silas were in the bar.
09:59Silas holding a bottle of champagne.
10:01Lila draped across his lap.
10:03Their friends were in the background, raising glasses.
10:06Bree.
10:06Stop looking at it.
10:08She's not worth your serotonin.
10:10I closed the app and tossed the phone aside.
10:13Then picked up my training journal off the nightstand, opened it to the next blank page,
10:17and started writing out my sectionals program.
10:20As long as I kept training, I didn't have to think about anything else.
10:26A week before sectionals, the club cut training to taper hours.
10:30Most of the teammates took the time off to rest.
10:32I took extra shifts at the skating club's shop.
10:34Wednesday afternoon, Silas' car pulled up outside.
10:38He got out and leaned against the driver's door.
10:41Sunglasses pushed up into his hair.
10:43Maeve, come here.
10:45I kept working, ignoring his words.
10:48He frowned and walked over.
10:50I'm talking to you.
10:51He reached for my arm, saw the dirt on my hands, and pulled his fingers back without touching me.
10:56Go wash up.
10:57You're coming with us.
10:59Where?
11:00Cabin.
11:00Up the mountain.
11:02Lila wants a few days off the ice.
11:03You're coming.
11:04I straightened up.
11:05I'm not going.
11:05He let out a sharp breath.
11:07Don't start with this again.
11:09I drove all the way down here.
11:11Lila wants to make peace.
11:14Don't be difficult.
11:15I have nothing to make peace about with her.
11:18Maeve.
11:19I'm training.
11:19He laughed, short and ugly.
11:21Training.
11:22Right.
11:23Like you need to.
11:25You could skate sectionals hungover and still take the podium.
11:28Just come.
11:29Get out of this dump for a weekend.
11:33Lila actually wants to fix things with you.
11:37I'm not going.
11:38His patience snapped.
11:39He stared at me for a second.
11:41Then he laughed again, this time with no humor in it at all.
11:44Suit yourself.
11:45He pulled his wallet out, thumbed off a stack of hundreds, and threw them on the floor at
11:49my feet.
11:50The bills fanned out across the concrete.
11:54Here.
11:55Your wages for the month.
11:58I covered your boss for it.
12:01Take the money, keep your pride, and stay out of my face.
12:05I didn't move.
12:07Not enough?
12:08He pulled out another stack and threw it down on top of the first.
12:12How about now?
12:13Coach Miller came out from the back office, took one look at the cash on the floor.
12:18Mr. Kemsington, what is going on here?
12:21We don't need any of this.
12:23Silas didn't even look at him.
12:24His eyes stayed on me.
12:26Pick it up.
12:28I still didn't move.
12:29Lila had been waiting in the car.
12:31She got out now, all wide eyes, and came running over in her white shearling boots.
12:35Simus, please stop.
12:37You're scaring her.
12:38She crouched down and started gathering up the bills, one by one.
12:44Maeve, don't be mad at him.
12:46He's just looking out for me.
12:48He doesn't mean it.
12:50Please, just come with us.
12:53I don't want to be the reason you two aren't talking.
12:56I looked at her and Silas.
12:57He wasn't sorry.
12:58He thought he was being generous, so I should be on my knees, thanking him.
13:02I walked past both of them, into the back of the shop, and shut the door.
13:06Through the wall, I heard him.
13:09See?
13:09That attitude.
13:10You try to help her and that's what you get.
13:13The car engine started up.
13:15The music pulled away down the street.
13:17Coach Miller came in a minute later.
13:18He set the stack of cash down on the workbench in front of me.
13:24Take it, kid.
13:25No.
13:26Maeve.
13:27He pushed it closer.
13:30Your dad.
13:31Your situation.
13:32You need this.
13:35I stared at the bills.
13:37They smelled like Silas' cologne.
13:39I walked to the utility sink in the corner, turned the water on as hot as it would go,
13:43and started washing my hands.
13:44Soap.
13:45Scrub.
13:46Rinse.
13:47I kept going until my skin was raw.
13:50That night, my dad came back.
13:52He was drunker than usual, and he'd seen the cash through the front window.
13:56He took it.
13:57Then he started taking everything else.
13:59Even put a chair through the front glass.
14:02I called the cops.
14:03When they got there, he was still going.
14:05Swinging a hockey stick at the lights, it took two officers to put in the cuffs.
14:09He spat at me on the way out.
14:11You called the cops on me.
14:13On your own father.
14:14I hope you know what you are.
14:16I hope you rot in hell for this.
14:18Blood and saliva down the front of my work shirt.
14:20I watched the cruiser pull out of the lot.
14:23So this was what it felt like, to have nobody left around me.
14:26The night before sectionals, I went to bed early.
14:29I just turned the light off, and lay there listening to the wind pick up outside.
14:33A storm had been rolling in all afternoon.
14:35A fist hit the door, as I slept deeply.
14:38I went to the door and opened it a crack.
14:40My dad.
14:41Snow on his shoulders.
14:42Eyes red.
14:44He stank of liquor.
14:45And there was something underneath it.
14:47You little bitch.
14:49His hand closed around my throat, before I got the door shut.
14:53You called the cops on me.
14:55I am your father.
14:57A sand in a cell.
14:59In a cell for two nights because of you.
15:02I clawed at his wrist.
15:03He squeezed harder.
15:05The room started to go gray at the edges.
15:07Tonight I'm taking care of you for good.
15:09So you can't hurt anyone ever again.
15:12He dragged me by the throat across the room.
15:16He shoved me from the stairs.
15:18White hot paint shot up the side of my leg.
15:20And the rest of me went down the stairs.
15:23He came down the steps after me with something in his hand.
15:25A bat.
15:26Then dragged me out of the house and into the blizzard.
15:29Snow fell on my wounds.
15:30It hurt so much.
15:32You think your fancy little Kensington boyfriend's gonna save you, didn't you?
15:35Another swing.
15:36My back.
15:37My shoulder.
15:38Just like your mother.
15:40Walked out and left you with me.
15:42And now look at you.
15:43I stopped trying to get up.
15:45I curled tighter and put my arms over my head.
15:47And let him hit me.
15:49Maybe it was easier this way.
15:50Maybe if I just stopped, the rest of it would stop too.
15:54The part-time job.
15:55The grant.
15:56Silas' words.
15:58All of it.
15:58Then my hand brushed against my pocket.
16:01I pulled my phone out under my arm where he couldn't see.
16:04My fingers were shaking too hard to read the screen.
16:07I knew the number from muscle memory.
16:09I pressed call and put it to my left ear.
16:12It picked up.
16:14What?
16:15His voice was thick with noise behind it.
16:18Voices and the howl of wind at altitude.
16:22Silas!
16:22The bat hit my back again and I couldn't help the noise that came out of me.
16:26What?
16:26Maeve, is that you?
16:27I can't hear you.
16:29Help.
16:31Help me.
16:33Are you serious right now?
16:34It's two in the morning.
16:35I'm at the top of the mountain freezing my ass off because Lila didn't see the sun rise.
16:41He's...
16:42Maeve, I'm done with this.
16:43Whatever this is, pulling some stunt, hurting yourself, whatever you're doing tonight to
16:47get my attention, it's not working.
16:49Please.
16:51The line went dead.
16:53The bat came down again.
16:55Now I didn't feel it.
16:56Snow was coming down so thick that I couldn't see the streetlight anymore.
16:59If I die, will Silas know?
17:02Will he be even a little bit sad?
17:04Probably not.
17:05He was up on the mountain with her, waiting for the sunrise.
17:07My eyes closed and I completely lost consciousness.
17:11I woke up in a hospital bed.
17:13Bree was in the chair next to me.
17:15Her eyes were red and swollen.
17:18You're awake.
17:19I tried to sit up and everything in me screamed at once.
17:23My ribs, my back, my right leg, especially the ankle, was wrapped from toe to mid-calf in
17:29something hard.
17:30What happened?
17:31How am I?
17:33Coach Miller had a bad feeling.
17:35He drove back to check on you and found you in this snow.
17:38He called 911.
17:39I closed my eyes.
17:41Maeve, the doctor said two of your ribs are cracked.
17:44Your right ankle has a sprain and a torn ligament.
17:47They want you on bed rest for at least two weeks.
17:50My dad.
17:52Arrested.
17:53They're charging him with aggravated assault.
17:55With his record, he's looking at 15 years minimum.
17:59Where is Silas?
18:01She didn't answer and picked up her phone, scrolled, and turned the screen toward me.
18:05It was an Instagram story.
18:07A photo of two figures sitting in the snow at the top of a peak.
18:11Lila's caption was three words.
18:13He chose me.
18:15Silas had reposted it and liked it.
18:17I looked at it for a long time.
18:20Maeve.
18:22You called him, didn't you?
18:25Coach said the phone was still in your hand when he found you.
18:28Yeah.
18:29I called him.
18:32He picked up, but he thought I was playing a trick.
18:35Bree put her face in her hands.
18:36I'll actually kill him.
18:38I'm going to find him and...
18:39Bree.
18:41I need you to do something for me.
18:43Get me to the rink.
18:45What?
18:46She lifted her head.
18:48Maeve!
18:49No, you're not!
18:50Did you not hear what the doctor said?
18:53I'm skating today.
18:55You'll destroy your ankle.
18:57Permanently.
18:58You could be done.
19:00Forever.
19:01That grant was the only way out of this town.
19:04They took it from me.
19:06The only thing I have left is sectionals.
19:08If I don't show up today, I have nothing.
19:11Get me discharged.
19:12Get me to the rink, please.
19:14She got up and walked out of the room.
19:17She came back 20 minutes later with a pair of crutches.
19:21The arena lobby was packed.
19:23Coaches.
19:23Parents.
19:24Judges.
19:25Heads turned when Bree wheeled me through on the rented chair.
19:29My right foot propped up and wrapped.
19:31A team trainer pulled me aside in the warm-up area.
19:35I heard you're out, right?
19:36You're scratching?
19:37I'm skating.
19:39He laughed once, then realized I wasn't joking.
19:42You can't be serious.
19:44With that foot, you can't even land a single.
19:46I can land everything I need to land.
19:48He looked at me.
19:50Then he started shaking his head.
19:52I can't sign off on this.
19:53I can't put my name on you going out there.
19:55Then don't.
19:56I'll sign my own waiver.
19:57He looked at Bree.
19:58Bree shrugged.
19:59She's the most stubborn person I've ever met.
20:01You're not going to win this.
20:02He cursed under his breath.
20:04Walked off.
20:05And came back 10 minutes later with a doctor.
20:07A brace.
20:08A syringe of lidocaine.
20:10You sign every line.
20:12And if you fall and you can't get up, that's on you.
20:16Not me.
20:17Not this federation.
20:18I signed every line.
20:20When I was 8 years old, my dad caught me practicing jumps in our backyard.
20:25In figure skating, almost every skater rotates the same way.
20:29Counterclockwise in the air.
20:30Push off.
20:31Spin to the left.
20:32Come down on the right foot.
20:33About 1 in 100 skaters rotates the other way.
20:37Clockwise.
20:38They land on the left foot.
20:39I was born one of them.
20:41My dad caught me launching into a clockwise rotation in the backyard and didn't like what
20:45he saw.
20:46He hit me with a belt until I switched.
20:48After that, I trained the standard way.
20:50Counterclockwise.
20:51But late at night, when the rink was empty, I jumped the way my body actually wanted to.
20:56Nobody knew.
20:57Not my coach.
20:58Not Silas.
20:59It was the only thing in my life my father hadn't been able to take from me.
21:05They called my name.
21:08Bree wheeled me to the boards.
21:10The trainer helped me into my skates, lacing the right one as loosely as he dared around
21:15the brace.
21:15The lidocaine was burning under the skin of my ankle.
21:18I stood up at the gate.
21:19My right foot felt like a block of stone with a fire inside it.
21:23I went into the entry.
21:24The arena went quiet when they saw me skate to center.
21:27The music started and rotated clockwise.
21:30I came down clean on my left foot.
21:32Every jump in my program was me.
21:34Every landing on the foot nobody had ever seen me land on.
21:37The right foot still had to do its job.
21:40Every time it took a load, my vision blurred at the edges.
21:43I got through the sequence.
21:45I'm not sure how.
21:46One jump left.
21:46I went into the entry on my left foot.
21:49I pushed off the wrong edge.
21:51I spun clockwise and came down on my left foot, clean, arms up, chest open.
21:57I held the exit edge across the full width of the rink and skated into my ending pose
22:02with my arms over my head until the music ended.
22:05Then I let my right leg buckle and went down on the ice on one knee.
22:10Bree was screaming from the boards.
22:12The trainer ran out and half carried me off.
22:15The car park outside the arena was almost empty.
22:18Bree had brought my phone from the hospital.
22:20It started buzzing the second I turned it on.
22:23Twelve missed calls from Silas.
22:25I let it ring out.
22:26He called again.
22:27I picked up.
22:29You skated?
22:30What the hell were you thinking?
22:32I just heard from someone at the rink.
22:34They said your ankle, I'm coming.
22:36Maeve, your dad.
22:38Bree told me everything.
22:40I didn't know, I swear to God.
22:42That call last night, I thought you were-
22:44You thought I was what?
22:46Say it, Simus.
22:47Maeve, sorry, just let me come get you.
22:49There's stuff you don't know.
22:51You think me being upset about the grant is about you?
22:54You think me getting hurt is some scheme to get to you?
22:57You think me skating today is to spite you?
22:59You think the whole world spins around what you want, what you need, who you're chasing
23:03this week?
23:03You really believe that?
23:04Maeve.
23:06Don't call me again.
23:07Don't show up.
23:08Don't send Bree messages to pass to me.
23:10We're done.
23:10I hung up and blocked his number.
23:12Blocked every account of his I could find.
23:15Bree was watching me from the driver's seat.
23:17You okay?
23:19Yeah.
23:19She started the car.
23:20I'd lived here 18 years.
23:23I had thought I was going to leave with him.
23:25Now I was going to leave alone.
23:28The official sectionals results posted that night.
23:31I was first overall by nearly 15 points.
23:34By morning, my name was on every skating site in the country.
23:37By afternoon, the Federation called.
23:39By the next day, I had three offers from European programs in my inbox.
23:44Italy.
23:45Norway.
23:45Norway.
23:46And the one I'd been quietly hoping for since I was 14.
23:49The sport science program at the Federal Institute in Switzerland.
23:54I emailed back, yes, within the hour.
23:57Coach Miller stood in the door of the back office, leaning on the frame, watching me close
24:02the laptop.
24:04I always knew you were getting out of here, kid.
24:06I just didn't think you'd take this long to figure out it was on your terms.
24:09I almost cried.
24:11Which was annoying, because I hadn't cried once in the hospital.
24:14And I wasn't going to start now in front of him.
24:17Barbary came over that night and helped me pack.
24:20I didn't have much.
24:21A duffel of clothes.
24:23Two pairs of skates.
24:24One for show and one for the rink.
24:28That's your whole life in one bag?
24:31Yeah.
24:32That's depressing.
24:33It's freeing.
24:35She threw a sock at me.
24:36We were almost done when there was a knock at the door.
24:40Brie looked at me.
24:41I shook my head.
24:42I heard his voice.
24:43Brie.
24:45Please.
24:46Just five minutes.
24:47He looked terrible.
24:49He hadn't shaved.
24:50His clothes were the same ones from yesterday.
24:52May have?
24:53You have five minutes.
24:55That night, I didn't hang up on you.
24:58Lysa took the phone.
24:59She told me you were doing it again, that you'd been calling her too, harassing her, trying
25:03to ruin the trip.
25:04By the time I realized-
25:06It doesn't matter.
25:07What doesn't matter?
25:10Go away.
25:11I don't want to see you again.
25:12Maeve, you can't.
25:13There's-
25:14Please.
25:14Please.
25:15I will spend the rest of my life.
25:17He went still.
25:19Get lost.
25:20Get out of my house.
25:21Get out of my life.
25:22We're done.
25:23He lifted his head and looked at me.
25:25And for the first time since I'd known him, I watched Silas realize that something he
25:30wanted was not going to happen.
25:32Fine.
25:33He turned and left.
25:34I watched her retreating figure, feeling nothing at all.
25:37Some things, once broken, are broken forever.
25:41They can never be put back together.
25:45I left on a Tuesday morning out of the town.
25:47Bree drove me.
25:48Coach Miller met us at the airport with a hug.
25:51Neither of them cried in front of me, which I appreciated.
25:54I didn't look back when I went through security.
25:56Switzerland was cold and quiet, and exactly what I needed.
26:00I went straight from undergrad into the master's program.
26:03By my second year, I'd published two papers.
26:05By my third, my advisor was telling everyone I was the most gifted student he'd had in 20 years.
26:11The Sports Biomechanics Lab gave me my own bench.
26:14I was already designing the early prototypes of what would eventually become my company.
26:19Most of the time, I didn't think about him.
26:21It was a Tuesday in late November of my third year, when I came out of the lab building and
26:26found him standing in the snow.
26:28He was in a black coat.
26:30There was snow on his shoulders and in his hair.
26:33I walked past him.
26:35Maeve.
26:35I stopped and turned.
26:38He was thinner, older around the eyes.
26:40What are you doing here?
26:42He held out a small box.
26:43Open it.
26:44I didn't take it.
26:46Open it.
26:47Please.
26:48Inside was an ankle brace.
26:49The shell was carbon fiber.
26:51The interior was lined with something soft and adaptive.
26:55I had it made for you.
26:56By the team that built the Olympic EXO program.
26:59It connects to the nerves.
27:01They said it would feel like the ankle never happened.
27:03I closed the box.
27:04Maeve.
27:05Please.
27:07Take it.
27:07I've been keeping track.
27:09Quietly.
27:10I didn't reach out.
27:11I just wanted to know you were okay.
27:12I took a breath.
27:13Your father is in a state penitentiary.
27:16Aggravated assault.
27:17Repeat offender.
27:1722 years.
27:18He'll be in his 70s when he gets out.
27:20Lila isn't skating anymore.
27:22The Federation reviewed her grant application after I brought them what I had on her.
27:26Financial hardship documents were forged.
27:29They pulled her eligibility.
27:30Banned her from competition.
27:32Last I heard, she was working at a salon outside Boulder.
27:35Why are you telling me this?
27:37Because I owe you the truth about what I did.
27:40The brace is so you can skate again.
27:42If you want to.
27:44I know what that ankle has been doing to you.
27:46I know you haven't been on the ice in many years.
27:48I held the box out to him.
27:49I don't need it.
27:51Maeve!
27:51My ankle is fine.
27:53I rebuild it myself.
27:54I'm two years into designing the kind of brace you're holding and mine is going to be better than this
27:57one.
27:58I don't need your father in prison to feel safe.
28:00I don't need Lila's life destroyed to feel even.
28:02I don't need any of it.
28:03I haven't needed any of it for a long time.
28:05I pushed the box into his hands.
28:07Go home, Silas.
28:09I walked past him toward my apartment.
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