Slowly, I, Anamarie, paced the perimeter of the room. Never before had I faced such a dilemma. It all had started out simply enough. I began ice skating around age six, and I adored it from the very start.
“Nothing has ever given me that much freedom,” I murmured aloud. But now everything was complicated. My family had lost everything we had, and along with that had gone the money for my skating. All the practice I got now was in winter on the frozen pond near our small worn-down house. I had taught myself everything I knew and also managed to find time to fit in schoolwork.
“High school’s just about over now. What do I do? I could take that scholarship and my own money and use them for college. But on the other hand I could continue my skating. How will I ever figure this out?” I felt tears dotting my cheeks. Skating was my dream and my release from it all. I longed to just quietly enter my own private world in that Olympic rink and give it my all and put my whole heart into it, and let the people see me in my element. But…what if I didn’t make it? Then I would be back where I had started from, barely making ends meet.
I sank to the floor, arms wrapped close about my knees. “What will Mom and Dad think? Will they hate me for wasting my chance to get an education? Will they be disappointed in me?” Eyes closed, I prayed for an answer desperately. A gust of wind brought the snow pelting against my window, and some of it managed to make it inside my toasty room. Carefully I stood and glided over to the window, which was open a crack. I felt the cold rush as the snow tickled and melted on my arms. I leaned down, bringing my face to the freezing air and snow. Then, I flung the window wide open and let the cold consume me and snatched up my skates from the floor.
“God, help me! What do I do?!” I shouted into the still night, more to myself than to God, who I felt might not hear me. I held up my skates, ready to fling them out of the window and forget that part of my life. But then, I began to imagine. I saw myself, alone in a freshly smoothed rink, illuminated by a warm spotlight. Slowly the music began to play and I commenced skating. I skated freely and let my emotions show for the whole song, and as the song ended, I heard the cheers and the clapping and knew it was just for me.
“What was that song? It sounded so familiar,” I pondered, probing the depths of my mind for the answer. But it didn’t matter. I had gotten my answer. After hearing the song that runs within all people, the song of a dream that must be followed, I decided I had to pursue my skating, wherever it might lead.
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