"To land a Quadruple Axel and pair it with an Ina Bauer is to secure a place on the podium."

Those words from his coach echoed in Bryce's mind during the grueling training sessions leading up to the worldwide competition. Bryce took them to heart. For months, he had crashed to the ice, suffered fractures and strains, bashed his knees, and endured head injuries, but he persevered. He made it. As he stepped off the ice after the final, he felt certain he had won.

Bryce spent the rest of the time talking to his coach, who remained focused on the performances of the other skaters, scrutinizing them as though they were still competitors. To him, this wasn't just a competition; it was a performance. That was, until the results were announced.

Bryce applied his makeup, meticulously covering any bruises on exposed skin, and then made his way to the center of the rink. As the judges read out the scores, he felt lighter with each eliminated competitor whose dreams were dashed. Finally, it came down to the top three.

He did not come in third. The promise of the trophy weighed heavily on his mind. He had achieved the impossible tonight, enduring starvation, relentless training, and countless collapses to secure his spot. Second place was just the first loser.

Caught up in fantasies of his impending victory, he missed his name being called, prompting his coach to shove him forward. Only then did he realize that second place was unoccupied.

He stepped onto the platform, stunned, as a mere medal was placed around his neck and a pitiful bouquet thrust into his arms. This was not what he had been promised. He stared at his coach, trembling, hiseyes wide with disbelief and betrayal. He had wanted to retire this year, to hang up his competitive skates and live without broken bones, sacrifices, and freak accidents.