Red laced
Today, everything will be different!
She could feel it in the pungent winter air rushing through her nostrils as she is taking generous gasps of air to keep up her brisk pace.
She was feeling impatient to clear the last bit of the path in the park, leading to the ice rink crowned by leafless trees, standing tall and dark against an evenly lit grey sky.
Red laced ice skating boots bouncing like excited toddlers on the side of her backpack, she too almost jumped in excitement when the deep blue of the ice met her forward looking gaze.
Now everything slowed down.
She ceremoniously sit on a wooden bench, unable to hold a smile fogged by the condensed air escaping her mouth as she exhales and, a bit awkwardly, unties the boots from the side of her backpack.
Gone are the wear off trainers, cold air dampened by thick wool socks, finally, the moment is here, the red laces ice skating boots securely fastened to her feet, almost blinding her with their blooming white leather reflecting the winterly sun that just broke through the clouds.
Inhale, exhale, push the blades against the ice, feel the breeze rushing around her neck, oblivious of her scarf getting loose and slipping away, too focused on gaining gargantuan speed, and, stop!
The blades bite the ice like a voracious wolf, puffing out tiny crystals of frozen water gleaming in the sun.
Next to her a small girl in tears, she fell again on the cold hard ice despite her effort and determination. She looks up at the woman wearing beautiful white later boots, glittering with crystals. Red laces tidily arranged in a criss-cross pattern culminating in the most beautiful bowl just above the woman ankles.
The little girl in awe as the woman tends her hand and help her getting up on her hideous wear down rental boots, she feels crossed and ashamed and confused by emotions she doesn't really understand, when she says: "Can you skate so well because of your magic boots?"
The woman looks back at the crossed girl and can't fail to see herself like in a time machine mirror. Tenderness move her arm as the now ungloved hand gently pull down the side of the girl wool cap to sit it in place.
She says: "It's better than magic, it's self confidence!"
