Silver made it to the parking lot before she stopped.
Stood there in the cold, keys in hand, unable to make herself get in the car and leave.
Because walking away felt wrong. Even though Eli couldn't choose her. Even though he was panicking and shutting her out. Even though this was the pattern repeating itself for the hundredth time.
Walking away still felt wrong.
She turned around. Walked back into the rink.
Eli was still there. Sitting on the bench by the boards, skates on, head in his hands.
"I can't leave," Silver said.
He looked up. Eyes red. "I can't ask you to stay."
"You're not asking. I'm choosing." She walked closer. "I'm choosing to stay even when it's hard. Even when you're panicking. Even when I don't know if this is going to work."
"Silver—"
"Let me finish." She sat next to him on the bench. "You're scared. I get it. The draft is huge. Life-changing. And you're trying to figure out how to balance your dreams with us. I understand that."
