The cold air bit at my face as I stepped onto the ice, the hum of the crowd filling the arena. Tonight was the big game against our rivals. I couldn’t afford distractions. But then, I saw her.

She was in the stands, tucked near the corner, eyes fixed on the ice. At first, I thought she was just another fan, but the way she leaned forward, her focus unwavering—it was like she wasn’t just watching the game, she was feeling it.

I couldn’t look away. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, her navy jacket a stark contrast to the ice. She had an energy about her that made the world blur. The game faded into the background. I scored twice in the first period, but my mind was elsewhere, on the way she reacted to every play, as if we were in sync.

In the locker room during intermission, my teammates were celebrating the lead, but I wasn’t paying attention. My heart wasn’t in it. I had to know who she was.

I left the locker room, heading toward the stands. I wasn’t sure what I’d say, but I needed to find her. The crowd parted as I slipped by, and there she was, sitting alone, her soft smile greeting me before I even spoke.

“Hey,” I said, unsure of what else to say.

“You play well,” she replied, her voice warm, a contrast to the chill of the arena.

I sat next to her, the noise of the game fading into the background. We didn’t need words—just the quiet connection between us. The puck dropped again, but I wasn’t really playing anymore. It didn’t matter if we won or lost. It only mattered that I was here, with her.

In the span of a few minutes, everything had changed. I’d never believed in love at first sight, but as I watched her smile at me, I realized something—maybe love didn’t need a long story. Maybe it just needed the right moment. And right now, that moment was with her.