hi I'm elody before I tell you my story please like And subscribe I was born on the outskirts of Paris and my early life was pretty uneventful until I turned s and my parents decided we were going on our first real vacation that involved flying to the males on the other side of the earth I was super excited but as soon as the plane took off I started feeling very uneasy the height made me feel dizzy then halfway in our flight we started having really bad turbulence and that made me panic are we going to
crash don't be silly the chances are really low so you're saying there is a slight chance we might die I cried hysterically for the remaining flight and when we finally landed I was shaking not even a week of fun at Sea could make me forget and when it was time to go back home I refused to get on the plane again I caused such a scene at the airport that my parents had no choice but to take a ship for the return trip and it drained their credit cards this is the last time we're going
on vacation ever Mom and Dad argued about money all the way home and soon after they separated I was convinced it was my fault no honey we were having problems for a while and don't worry we'll be okay but seeing them divorce was heartbreaking dad remarried had new children and completely forgot about me Mom tried many things to cheer me up but it seems like nothing was working until one day she took me ice skating at the local rink and that changed everything when I was on the ice it felt like I was flying and
all my problems disappeared Mom saw the potential I had and signed me up for private lessons by the time I was 10 I was already winning Junior local competitions my training was expensive but Mom worked double shifts to cover for it if this is your dream I will do anything in my power to help you you're the best mom I'll make you proud at school I did well enough my peers admired me but unfortunately I didn't have many close friends also as time went by I started noticing I wasn't like other girls my age like
one time when I was 15 I was at a friend's house for a sleepover and we were watching the movie Titanic during the final scene all the other girls were crying but I just couldn't get it I snatched the remote and paused the movie this is so stupid look there's enough room on that door for Jack to climb to ell you're ruining the moment this moment is already ruined who even likes such dumb movies needless to say I was never invited for a movie night again so maybe I wasn't that much of a romantic or
at all big deal As I Grew Older most of my peers started dating breaking up and crying over ice cream well I was still waiting for my first crush to happen I felt like I was being weird and the only person in the world who got me was my best friend Louis we got closer months ago mom is happy I'm not getting distracted by dating but her sister and friends always ask why I don't have a boyfriend as if there's something wrong with me it's not something you can force the same way I can't like
girls and even if you never fall in love with someone who cares you're amazing just the way you are I know but sometimes I wish I wasn't so different and that guys would stop asking me out I wish that was my problem it would be if you came out no thank you I'd rather swim with alligators Louis was terrified of his father finding out he was gay in a way we were both fishes out of water and maybe that's why we got along so well I knew I could talk to him about everything without being
judged when I turned 18 I was added to the national competition that would send the winner to the Olympics that would give me the opportunity to have a real sponsor relieving mom of the huge financial burden by that point I was training daily and my coach had given me a very complex program you have a real chance of winning ody but you really need to land that triple xxel that jump would keep me up at night it was so difficult less than 20 women landed it in competition ever and as if that wasn't enough one
day the restaurant where Mom worked caught fire and she ended up in the hospital with a broken ankle and some Burns her condition wasn't too serious but she needed time to recover I won't be able to work for a while I'm sorry elody but I can't pay your coach anymore I was devastated it felt like my only chance at a career had just been taken away but I didn't want to show that to Mom she was already feeling bad and I didn't want to make her feel worse I picked up a job in a small
Cafe to earn some extra cash but between studying and working I was exhausted I was crying on the phone with lwis one night when he came up with a crazy solution you won't like it but hear me out my dad is having this big party in a couple of days with all his business partners and he insisted that I invite my girlfriend what girlfriend uh I may have lied about that Dad kept asking me why I was still single at my age so I panicked and told him I was dating someone I know it's wrong
but I never expected him to meet her anyway you could pretend to be my girlfriend and I'll ask him to sponsor you he likes donating to all sorts of causes and for a potential daughter-in-law I'm sure he'll accept I don't know lies like that always end badly can't you just tell him the truth you don't know him ever since I was little he wouldn't stop talking about my future wife and how he hopes I'll have like 25 grandkids trust me this is the only way I was uncomfortable with the fake dating plan but LS was
right it would benefit both of us at least until I managed to win the championship and get another sponsor so when the day of the party rolled out I put on my prettiest dress and ended up Charming all of the guests Louis was cold sweating when it was time to introduce me to his father and I could see why his dad was a very Stern looking man with a permanent frown on his face but when we started talking he seemed kind in his way Louis took the opportunity to tell about Mom's incident and how I
needed help with my career I understand but unfortunately this isn't a good time for my company maybe next year I felt like the Earth stopped spinning LS looked as shocked as me and promised to talk to his dad again but it was of no use some days later I was at the cafe working but I really couldn't focus and started crying again just then someone tapped on my shoulder why is a pretty girl like you crying you're ruining your makeup I looked up and saw Henry a famous skater who had won the championship the previous
season staring at me he sat me down and I ended up telling him all my worries so now my career is basically over it doesn't have to be I can pay for your training really you can but why you hardly know me I know that everyone needs to see real talent my family is one of the wealthiest in the country my car insurance is more expensive than your lessons it's nothing I couldn't believe my luck from that day on I started practicing with Henry and he seemed quite impressed with my skills some days we would
go have coffee after training he was a lot more experienced than I was and I loved hearing about his travels and all the talented people he met during competitions one afternoon after practice Henry was dropping me at home when he leaned in and tried to kiss me I quickly pushed him away and he seemed very confused I'm sorry is there a problem I think I might have given you the wrong idea Henry I like you but only as a friend I'm just not interested in dating anyone I see what can I say it's breaking my
heart that you're doing this to me and I get it but I don't think any other guy would you have to be careful about giving a guy wrong signals especially when you get so close in such a short period guys always expect something in return anyway I guess I'll leave now Henry gave me a quick hug and left I decided to keep my distance from Henry after that I didn't want to hurt him anymore soon it was time for the competition but the day before the competition I was so stressed out I could barely stay
still so Louis asked me to go to the local fair with him to calm my nerves down we went to all the booths trying our luck I spent an embarrassing amount ount of money at the duck pond game and Louis won at the miniature rifle range the lady gave him a huge heart-shaped plushy which he gave to me a lucky charm for tomorrow sure it has nothing to do with how bulky this is we were having a good time going on roller coasters and eating fries but just then I heard someone calling my name from
the crowd I turned around and saw Henry walking in our Direction so he's the reason you broke up with me Henry no your misunderstanding LS is just a friend just like I was a friend to you you know if you liked someone else you could have just said that and what's even about this guy that made you reject me is it money careful dude you got yourself a gold digger don't you dare talk to her like that or what you'll hit me Henry took a step forward his fist balled up but I got in the
way and pushed Henry aside it's not worth it Louis he's just a crazy possessive guy forget about him oh wow crazy and possessive this is how you say thank you for being a good friend and helping you something this idiot would never do I wanted to argue more but I decided against it and left with Lewis I couldn't believe Henry would turn on me like that I thought he was my friend but I couldn't waste too much sleep because of him I had a competition to win I set the alarm on my phone and went
to sleep early so I got some rest but the next morning I woke up to Louis screaming in my face get up Ellie you're late what oh my God how did I not wake up I checked my phone and the screen was glitching it looks like my phone's broken we don't have time for that hurry up or you'll miss the competition I quickly got dressed and left with ls but the Road was jam-packed with traffic it was the weekend and the main Carnival day as if that wasn't enough the main Bridge was closed because of
a small accident this is the only way to cross the river we're never going to make it what am I going to do I might have an idea Louis got out of the car and we made our way back to the fair from the previous night okay anytime now who what that I looked where Louis was pointing my heart dropped right over the fair a couple of hot air balloons were already taking off and others were waiting for customers on the ground oh no no no you got to be kidding I know you're afraid of
heights but this is your only chance listen to me elody you can't let your fear win not now when you're so close to making your dream come true Louis was right my stupid ear was getting in the way of my dreams but I was Stronger than that we paid the man piloting the balloon and hopped on as we took off I closed my eyes and wrapped myself around Louis like an octopus you can look now trust me I slowly opened my eyes and it was so different from what I remembered from that airplane all those
years back sure I was still afraid but from up there the world looked so peaceful and beautiful the flight didn't last long and soon we were Landing in front of the Arena we ran inside and I got my skates on Just In Time the place was packed but I felt confident and performed my best routine and then came the final moment the dreaded triple axle who took a deep breath and spun three times Landing beautifully and the crowd went crazy the results were announced soon after and I was over the moon to back the first
prize right after I got my trophy I was getting back to Lewis when Henry got in my way what now I just came to tell you that I'm sorry I was wrong and totally out of line also I really thought that hackers would hack your phone and keep you away from the competition but I guess Talent always finds a way you hacked my phone that's why the alarm didn't go off and nobody could reach me that's horrible Henry why would you do that because I wanted to show you your place but like I said I
was wrong and I'd like to start a new friend ship with you from scratch yeah I don't think so I can't trust you and friendship is based on trust now if you'll excuse me my friend is waiting for me I went backstage to Lewis and was kind of surprised to see his dad waiting for me congratulations young lady I'm proud my son is such a talented girlfriend uh actually dad LS gathered himself for a moment and then told his dad the truth I'm sorry for all the lies but all this time I was afraid of
disappointing you you're right I am disappointed but with myself I kept projecting my ideal life without even considering you'd want something different son all I really care about is for you to be happy and you young lady this was a big step in your life and I have a surprise for you Louis and his dad took me home with them where his dad had organized a party to welcome Mom after her discharge from the hospital she couldn't be at the competition so the party was our chance to celebrate together mom introduced herself and thanked him
and then they kept chatting and chatting and it gave me a weird feeling what's going on with with our parents they're so red are they sick worse they like each other and yes you guessed it that's how I ended up with a stepfather and brother I learned that you have to face your fear or you'll be afraid for the rest of your life