Unwanted Distraction

Kaelen’s POV

The heavy, rhythmic crunch of my skates slicing through the frozen surface echoed across the empty arena. The frigid air burned my lungs with every harsh intake of breath. I loved the isolated quiet. The familiar scent of sharpened steel, frozen water, and vulcanized rubber usually cleared my mind the second I stepped onto the rink. Tonight, the silence failed me.

My thoughts remain