The ice was my only sanctuary. The cold, clean scent of the rink, the sharp sound of blades cutting through the surface, the burn in my muscles—it was the only thing that could quiet the storm in my head. For three days, that’s all I did. I trained until my body screamed for mercy, pushing the other girls just as hard.

“Again!” I called out, my voice echoing in the nearly empty arena. “Lina, your crossover is weak! Sasha, lower your center of gravity! They’re bigger and stronger ...