Chapter 1
The arena was alive with energy, the lights blazing down on the ice as if the rink itself was burning with anticipation. The crowd was on edge, their nervous energy palpable. Every eye was fixed on the players, every breath held in suspense. It was the finals, and the game was tied. The tension hung thick in the air, thick enough to taste. The final goal, the last play, would determine everything.
Jack's heart raced as the puck was passed to him. He felt the weight of it, the pressure, the moment, the years of hard work and sacrifice. He knew this could be the chance to win, but more than that, he wanted to win for his dad. He glanced over at him on the sidelines, his face a mixture of pride and hope.
With a quick glance, Jack made his decision. He would pass the puck to his father. It was the right thing to do. As he moved, however, he didn’t notice the two players closing in on him, their skates slicing the ice, their sticks ready. The first player came barreling toward him, intent on stealing the puck. In the scramble, the second player shoved his teammate forward, knocking him off balance and into Jack’s path.
Everything happened in a blur.
The stick meant to challenge Jack swung wildly, but in an instant, it connected with his dad. The blade of the stick sliced through the air and struck his neck. Time seemed to freeze. Jack’s breath caught in his throat, and his world tilted on its axis.
“Dad!” Jack screamed, his voice breaking. The sound of his own voice seemed distant as the arena fell into a stunned silence. His body moved before he could think, his skates tearing across the ice as tears began to sting his eyes. His father crumpled to the ice, his hand clutching at his neck as blood seeped through his fingers.
Jack reached him just as the light in his father's eyes dimmed. His father’s breath came in shallow, labored gasps, but he still tried to smile through the pain. Jack could hear the faint whisper, almost drowned by the chaos around them.
“I’m proud of you,” his dad murmured, his voice rough. “You’re gonna be... a great player...”
Jack’s heart shattered as he fell to his knees beside him. His father’s smile faded, and his eyelids fluttered closed. Jack’s world, once filled with hope and adrenaline, now felt hollow.
Tears blurred his vision as he whispered, his voice choked with grief, “I’m sorry... I’m so sorry, Dad.”
The crowd was still, the reality of the tragedy sinking in, and Jack could only hear the frantic thrum of his own heartbeat. The game, the victory, didn’t matter anymore. All that remained was the man who had supported him through it all, now slipping away.
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