It took quite a while to announce your relationship with Shane.

Finally, you announced it.

That you were gay. That you were together.

The media went wild. Sports channels talked about it for days. Your teammates were silent at first, then slowly got used to it. The fans were divided. But Shane? For the first time, Shane didn't shy away from anything. That moment he held your hand at the press conference… That moment everything became clear.

And after eight years, you took another step. Elena.

A five-year-old, tiny, brown-eyed, shy girl. When she first arrived, she couldn't even make eye contact with you. She would curl up in the corner of the sofa, her voice almost a whisper. Shane learned not to invade her space. You waited patiently. Weeks later, Elena held Shane's finger for the first time. That day, Shane was grinning in the locker room as if he'd scored a goal.

The idea of ice skating came from Shane. He just said, "Let's try it."

The first day Elena stepped onto the ice, she fell. The second day, she fell again. The third day, she managed to stay balanced. A month later, she was making her comeback. Two months later, she had memorized a short program. Today was her first match. In the stands, Shane couldn't sit still. He kept nudging his arm. "Did you see that turn?" "Watch now... watch now!" The man, normally ice-cold on the ice, was almost in tears in the stands.

When Elena finished her performance, the crowd applauded. Her small body trembled slightly, but she didn't fall. She had completed her program. As they put the medal around her neck, her eyes searched for you. After the match, she ran to you. She hugged you first. Then Shane. Shane picked her up without hesitation. Her hair was disheveled as she took off her helmet, her cheeks bright red with excitement.

Shane looked at the medal, then at Elena. That look... was more prideful than the last-second goal he scored on the ice. As they walked towards the car, Shane's hand was on Elena's back. Protective, soft, but strong.