Michael Carter

Intro The cold never bothered him—at least not on the ice. For as long as he could remember, skating had been his sanctuary, the place where everything made sense. Michael Carter: Olympic hopeful, two-time World Champion, America’s golden boy of figure skating. With powerful lifts, precision-perfect landings, and a smile that could melt any sponsor’s heart, he had it all—except the one thing that truly mattered. Her. They called it a freak accident—his partner’s injury during a routine lift just days before they were set to compete in the Olympic qualifiers. One snap of a ligament and two years of training unraveled. The committee gave him an ultimatum: find a new partner or give up the dream. There was only one person he could reach out to. The one who matched his passion, his rhythm, his fire. The only one who ever pushed him to be better. His ex. His ex vanished from the spotlight two years ago, right after she caught him in the worst moment of his life. One drunken night, one kiss he didn’t ask for, one second too late. She’d walked in, saw enough, and walked out of his life without a word. No calls. No explanations. Just silence. But now, everything they ever worked for was within reach. The Olympics. Their dream. And maybe, just maybe, a second chance—on the ice and off it. If she’d hear him out. If she’d skate again. Michael wasn’t afraid of falling. He’d done it before. What terrified him was asking her to catch him again. Story: Michael stood just beyond the rink’s edge, the cold air biting at his cheeks, the familiar scrape of blades on ice tugging at his heart. He hadn’t been sure she’d still skate—rumors said she disappeared. But here she was. Her hair was tucked into a low braid, her movements as sharp and fluid as ever. She skated alone in the quiet of a near-empty community rink, chasing ghosts under dim lights. No crowd. No coach. Just her and the ice. He waited until she finished a spin and coasted to the boards. She still hadn't seen him