Page 49 of Wonderstruck

Cora Holland was a mystery sometimes. She wasa ball of yarn you could never stop untangling because the string was never-ending. But just to look at her, you’d think you’d know everything. Her onyx hair,vampy persona and cat eyes left little room for the world to label her as anything but a bitch.But they were wrong. She was anything but.

And don't tell her this, but sometimes I was glad the world thought ofher as such. All that meant was that we could keep her for ourselves, and love her the way she deserved.

We wrapped up the call soon after, my thoughtshalting as a woman emerged from the rink door, passing me a small smile whilst holding it open for me.Thankfully my fear of being impolite was whatgot me through the door, grabbing the cold handle without a second thought.

I pulled off my earmuffs and smoothed down mycurtain bangs with more care than they needed, as the cold air froze the blush my overthinking had painted on my cheeks.

On the centre of the ice was Aspen, althoughthis time she was collecting cones that had been placed in a jagged line. My heart juddered a little when I saw her, but I managed to ignore whatever pull was trying to drag me back out of the door.

She spotted me as she straightened, a stack ofcones balanced in her hands. “Rory! You made it!” she called, her voice bright as she waved me in. “Let me clear all this up, and I’ll be right with you. Get your skates on!”

I nodded quickly, setting my bag down on one ofthe benches. My hands trembled as I pulled out my skates, staring at them for a moment.

I’ve already done this. I skated with Finn, forheaven’s sake. Why am I so nervous?

I shook the thought away and busied myselfunlacing the skates. Sliding my feet in, I tugged the laces tight, then stood.

And wobbled.

When I glanced up, Aspen was already on the ice.The cones had disappeared, replaced by her clipboard. She moved effortlessly, her posture sharp, her presence commanding in a way that was comforting rather than intimidating.

She caught my eye and smiled, skating over.“How are you feeling? Do you think you’re ready?”

I took a shaky breath and nodded. “I think so…but part of me just wants to stand here forever.” Before she could say anything, the words spilled out. “I have to tell you though, the other day, I skated. For the first time in… well, forever.”

Her hazel eyes lit up. “Ohwow. That’s amazing.”she skated closer, her light skin shimmering under the lights. “How come?”

I shrugged. “Oh, you know. I’m tutoring thisboy—Finn—because he’s failing French, and he offered to help me skate in return.” My fingers started to tug at the ends of my curls. “Which is funny because now I have private lessons with you, so it was kind of pointless. But not pointless as inI don’t want to be here, I do. IthinkI do.” The thoughts in my head were pilling up, and for some reason, my mouth didn’t think before setting them free. “Anyway, I used to hate him. I mean, I think I hated him. But now I’m not sure. We might’ve had a moment yesterday when I was tutoring him, or maybe I just imagined it because I really wanted him to like me. And that’s probably why I hated him in the first place, but…”

I froze, my voice still ringing in my ears like anemergency siren.Oh god.

Did the ghost of a tragic oversharer just possess me?

I replayed the word vomit in my head, wincing atevery unnecessary detail that had no right to be publically shared. Maybe my brain had too many thoughts and just rage-quit containment. That seemed to be the general theme of today, anyway.

“I see,” she said slowly, her eyes firm, but hermouth very close to breaking into that smile I could see she was fighting to keep. “And, um… how did you feel after skating with the boy you’re tutoring, who you also have a massive crush on but apparently hated?” Her face screws up. “Hate, or hated?” And then her face settles. “Sorry, I got lost half way through, to be honest.”

I forced a smile, bouncing my head like it wasn’ta big deal. “Better. Good, I think.”Breathe, before you start babbling again. “I still remember crossovers, but my turns probably need polishing. I don’t know if I’ll ever be as good as I used to be.”

“But you want to be. And that right there is proof that a part of you wants to find that skater again.”

I nodded, her words sinking in. “I know.”

She clapped her gloved hands, the sound echoingthrough the rink. “Well then, get your butt on this ice and show me what we’re working with!”

Before my nerves could take over, I rememberedwhat she’d said—what I knew deep down.I wanted this.

I took another deep breath, the cool air biting at my cheeks as I opened the gate that led me out onto the ice.

For a moment, I wondered if I’d ever be able tofind her again–the girl who glided across the ice like she was untouchable. Like nothing else in the world mattered. Up until now, I believed she was a figment of my imagination, a past life I had no tether to anymore. But when I looked back out across the ice, I swore I could feel it. Feel something. Like tiny hands wrapped around my fingers, guiding me so I wouldn’t lose my way.

I held onto the feeling as I dropped one skateonto the ice.My palms felt clammy, but I clenched them intofists, steadying myself. My other foot followed. For a moment, I wobbled, my arms instinctively stretching out for balance.

“You’re doing fine,” Aspen said, her tone calm butwatchful. “Just feel it out. Breathe. There are no expectations right now. Just you and the ice.”

I let her voice guide me, taking a tentative glideforward. Then another. The rhythm started to come back to me—the push, the shift of weight, the subtle sway of my hips. It wasn’t perfect, but it was… something.

I looked up and caught Aspen’s eye. Her smilewidened.

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