"Infinite"
"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite."
The neon "Ice Skating" sign that once used to shine bright (with the occasional exception of the e' in Ice that would sometimes stop working, in which case the sign read "Ic Skating") was now dull. It probably broke, and knowing this town nobody was bothered enough to fix it.
I couldn't help feeling embarrassed that I still had the open-to-public hours memorized.
I picked out the first size 8 I saw, it's kind of like bowling in the sense that you get over the disgust of wearing used shoes after about your first visit.
It wasn't until I got to the ice that I regained, albeit for a moment, the sense of practicality I lost. Did I even remember how to do this?
"It's like riding a bicycle, you might be a little rusty but you never just forget.'"
I looked across the rink to find an old friend (who unlike myself, wasn't wasting a moment in contemplation) on the ice.
"Need a hand?" He called out again.
"No, I think I'm good."
Truth be told, I just winged it. Maybe it was because I have an ego issue (at least I admit it alright).
I was drifting around on the solid ice in small streaks.
Being on the ice offered a sense of...purpose. It's like the ice compels you to keep moving. The demand sounds simple, almost futile, but I guess that's why it always looks so easy when you watch someone else. However if you're willing to learn, the ice doesn't care if you do a "Triple Salchow" or if you're just skating in little streaks that add up, it just wants you to keep going. And if you don't...well then you fall. And that just sucks.
And then I heard a thud. Followed by farcical laughter. The ice rink felt just a little warmer. Just the right kind of warm.
I wanted to laugh too, but then the atmosphere would become too intimate. So I helped him up. Because it was the right thing to do.
"Thanks," he said while we were in the middle of helping him regain his balance.
"No problem," I smiled, with my teeth showing and all. After his seesaw like balance finally steadied I let go. We continued our miserable skating, and I remembered how fun this used to be. Not the actual skating part but rather just the being on the ice part.
"On second thought, I do need a hand. The metaphorical hand of course."
"Of course m'lady, my metaphorical hand is at your service?"
"Alright so I can't exactly get myself to stride, I roughly remember some of the steps but not all. Do you think you could, you know, give me a demo or something?"
He looked at me, slightly confused, slightly amused. Maybe he didn't know either. But he didn't refuse either. Maybe he had an ego issue too.
We kept skating beside each other regardless.
Feeling obligated, I continued the conversation, "I know you start with the "toe starts", and you keep your knees bent, your skates under your body forming a V,' your chi..."
I heard laughter again, that same farcical laugh.
He was waving on the opposite edge of the rink, and I...was accelerating.
***
A/N: My little ode to infinities for truly existing and of course Perks for being an amazing book and experience.
Kumkum Bhagya
Tum Se Tum Tak
Sampoorna
Jhanak
