Chapter 192: Truth

Lena’s POV

The championship game was tied after two periods. Every shift felt important; every shot made the crowd rise to its feet. Ryan barely looked away from the ice. His eyes followed every pass, every line change, and every faceoff as if he were still standing behind the bench with the team. I watched him almost as much as I watched the game. He looked healthier than he had a few weeks earlier, but I could still see the moments when pain crossed his face.

He tried to hide them; he never hid them well from me. During the second intermission, an arena employee approached us.

"Mr Kade.”

Ryan turned. “Yes?”

“Coach Hartman asked if you could join him in the strategy room for five minutes.” The arena employee said.

Ryan frowned. “I thought I was not allowed near the locker room.”

“You are not.” The employee responded. “The strategy room is on this level.”

Ryan looked at me. “I will not be long.”

“I will be here,” I whispered.

He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “I know.”

As he walked away with the employee, I remained in my seat overlooking the ice. The arena buzzed with nervous excitement, and one more period would decide everything. I reached for my phone; there was another message from Detective Harper.

Security has detained one person using fake media credentials. We are still confirming whether they acted alone. Please remain where you are.

I read the message twice before locking my phone. I did not want Ryan worrying about something he could not control.

A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts. “Lena?”

I looked up.

Vanessa stood beside my seat; she smiled warmly. “I hoped I would find you.”

I stood to hug her. “I did not know you were coming.”

“I rearranged three meetings," she laughed. “I was not missing this game.”

We sat together while the teams returned to the ice.

Vanessa looked toward Ryan’s empty chair. “He is with Coach?”

“Yes,” I replied.

She nodded. “I am glad.”

“So am I,” I whispered.

For a few minutes, we watched the players skate without speaking.

Then Vanessa turned toward me. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” I whispered.

“When Ryan was injured…” She paused, choosing her words carefully. “Did you ever think about leaving?”

The question surprised me. “No.”

“Not even once?” She asked.

I shook my head. “I never considered it.”

Vanessa studied my face. “Why?”

I smiled to myself. “Because loving someone is not something you do only when life is simple.”

She nodded slowly. “I thought that might be your answer.”

I looked back toward the ice. “I was afraid.”

“I know.” She whispered.

“I was exhausted,” I replied.

“I know.” She whispered.

“I cried more than I wanted anyone to see,” I said.

Vanessa reached over and squeezed my hand. “I know that too, and you left everything behind just to be with him.”

I laughed softly. “I must have looked terrible; I did everything for love.”

“You looked human,” Vanessa said.

That made me smile. “I kept wondering whether everything we planned would disappear.”

Vanessa tilted her head. “What did you plan?”

I hesitated. I had never expressed those thoughts out loud, not even to Ryan. “I used to imagine little things.”

“What kind of things?” Vanessa asked.

I looked at the empty seat beside me. “I imagined us arguing over paint colours in a house we had not bought yet.”

Vanessa smiled.

“I imagined him complaining every time I rearranged the kitchen. I can picture that, and I imagined holidays with both of our families.” My voice became quieter. “I imagined growing old with him.”

Vanessa remained silent.

“I imagined children who would inherit his smile and my stubbornness.” Tears filled my eyes before I realised they were coming. “I kept all those dreams.”

“You never let them go?” Vanessa asked.

I shook my head. “Not even when he was lying in that hospital bed.” I wiped my eyes. “Not even when the doctors warned us that everything might change.”

Vanessa looked at me with gentle understanding. “You never stopped planning a future with him.”

I smiled through my tears. “No.” My voice was steady. “I never stopped.”

I looked out at the ice where the players were gathering for the opening faceoff of the final period. “I did not know what our future would look like anymore.” I placed a hand over my heart. “But I never doubted that I wanted him to be in it.”

A voice behind us spoke quietly. “I heard every word.”

I turned. Ryan stood a few feet away; he had returned sooner than I expected. His eyes were shining. He looked at me with an expression I had never seen before. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. Then he crossed the distance between us.

He took my hand gently. “Lena.” His voice trembled. “I have something I need to tell you too.”

Before he could say another word, the arena lights flashed. The third period was about to begin, and Coach Hartman called Ryan’s name from the tunnel. Ryan looked from me to the ice. For the first time since I had met him, I saw him hesitate between hockey and me.

Ryan looked toward the tunnel where Coach Hartman was waiting. Coach saw the conflict on his face and gave him a small nod.

“You have one minute,” he called.

Ryan nodded in return. “I will be right there.”

The coach disappeared back through the doorway.

Ryan turned to me again. For a moment, the noise inside the arena seemed to fade into the background.

“What were you going to say?” I asked.

He smiled nervously. “I had a speech planned.”

I laughed softly. “You planned a speech?”

“I did.” He whispered.

“That sounds dangerous,” I muttered.

“It probably is.” He took a slow breath. “When I was in the hospital, I kept thinking about everything I had lost.” He looked down at his injured shoulder. “I thought my career might be over.”

I squeezed his hand. “I remember.”

“I convinced myself that I was becoming a burden, and you left your clinic, your career, your life, everything just to be with me.” He said.

“You were never a burden; I'm glad I could help, and don't worry about me, Maya is always there for me,” I whispered.

“I know that now.” His voice became steadier. “You stayed anyway.”

“I never planned to leave,” I whispered.

“I finally understand that.” He looked into my eyes. “I spent so much time worrying about whether I would play hockey again.” He smiled sadly. “I forgot to notice that I had already won the most important thing in my life.”

My throat tightened. “Ryan…”

He gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from my face. “I heard you talking to Vanessa.”

I felt my cheeks grow warm. “I did not know you were there.”

“I know," he smiled. “I am glad I heard it.” His eyes held mine. “You said you never stopped planning a future with me.”

“I meant every word,” I whispered.

“I believe you.” He swallowed before speaking again. “I need you to know something.”

“What is it?” I asked.

“I never stopped planning one with you either.” He said.

Tears filled my eyes again. “Even after everything?”

“Especially after everything.” He laughed quietly. “I used to picture winning championships.” He looked around the arena. “I still want that.” Then he looked back at me. “But when I imagined celebrating, you were always standing beside me.”

I smiled through my tears. “I never told you that because I thought there would always be more time.”

“There still is.” He said.

“I hope so,” I whispered.

He nodded firmly. “There will be.”

An announcement echoed through the arena. “Teams, please return to the ice.”

Ryan glanced toward the tunnel. “I really have to go.”

“I know,” I whispered.

He lifted our joined hands and kissed my knuckles. “I love you, Lena, so much.”

The words came so naturally that they made me smile before I even answered. “I love you too, Ryan."

He rested his forehead against mine for one brief moment. “When this game is over, we finish this conversation.”

“It is a promise,” I whispered.

“It is.” He said.

He started walking backward toward the tunnel. Halfway there, he stopped. “I almost forgot.”

“What?” I asked.

He smiled. “No matter what happens tonight…” He pointed gently toward my heart. “…that is still my home.”

Before I could answer, Ethan leaned out from the tunnel entrance. “Captain, if Coach has to come looking for you, we are both going to be in trouble.”

Ryan laughed. “I am coming.”

He looked at me one last time before disappearing into the tunnel, and I watched him go with a full heart. Then I looked back toward the ice, and the third period was seconds away from starting. My phone vibrated inside my pocket; I expected another message from Detective Harper. Instead, an unknown number had sent a single photograph.

The picture showed Ryan and me standing together only moments earlier. Taken from somewhere inside the arena, below it was one sentence: You are easier to find when you stand together.