The wind. The thrill. My love, skating beside me, keeping me warm even though I am surrounded by ice.
This is what I live for, what I skate for; the passion, the emotion. So many years ago, I never would have dreamed that I would find myself here with the mysterious, exciting, beautiful man I have learned to love, Victor Nifikorov.
All of a couple of years ago, he was my idol. Somehow, all of that changed in a year. Now he is my fiancé.
Right now, we are in the rink near my home, by ourselves, but most certainly not lonely.
The slicing of our blades across the ice haunts us with every movement that we make.We circle each other, our eyes forever locked on the other's. We come closer, our hearts beating faster every second. And closer, and closer. And then...
We kiss. From the first time to the one we just shared, the aching for each other we have felt has always been the same. With Victor as my coach, my opponent, and my lover, we need each other more than ever. Because only one of us can win the next Grand Prix.
When we pull away, Victor takes my hand and pulls it to his chest. "Yuri," he says that in his sweet gentle voice, "I love you." My eyes wander down to see our matching pair of gold rings, and the promise that they remind us of. Of what we will always mean to each other.
"Victor," I say, "I'll love you too." And as we go back into our own programs for this upcoming season, my mind wanders back to my short program from last year, "In Regards to Love: Eros." Thinking back, I finally realize what my Eros truly is to me. It's Victor.