Flowers [Viktuuri]

Flowers

Flowers.

And a kiss.

Those were the last things I ever received from him.

I was skating Eros, swimmingly just as I had done hundreds of time in rehearsal. If not, even better. But suddenly, I locked eyes with him, off to the sidelines. His hair the color of moonlight, his cerulean eyes and lips beaming in support. I suddenly lost image of the pork cutlet bowl I had been using as reference for Eros, and my mind went silver then sequentially black as I fell out of my quadruple Salchow and landed headfirst onto the surrounding ice. He had won.

I woke up in an unfamiliar place to a distant beeping sound. I rubbed my eyes.

"Yuri, you're awake! Would you like me to get your glasses for you?"

I knew that familiar Russian dialect anywhere. Before I could respond, my world recolored itself as my glasses were picked up off a small table next to me and returned to their rightful spot on my forehead. I gasped in shock as I took notice of my surroundings, causing a wave of pain to rush through my head like a lightning bolt.

"You're probably in shock. You fell out of your Salchow and cracked open your skull. You're incredibly lucky, you know? Everyone was so concerned. You really have a lot of people who support you."

Victor grinned in anticipation as he uncrossed his arms from behind his back and pulled out a bouquet of snow-white roses.

"I've been waiting all day to give these to you. I actually wanted to bid you farewell, as I'm getting on a plane and heading back to Russia tomorrow with Yurio."

He placed the bouquet in my hands but did not let go of them, still holding his smooth, sultry hands over my smaller ones in a tight grip around the roses.

"It's been even more difficult than I had ever imagined for me to let you go, I really enjoyed my time as your coach. I came all the way over here for a reason, you know."

Beads of tears began to form in my eyes as I realized that I was going to lose Victor, the man that had kept me strong not just for the past few months when he was was coach, but for my entire life. I didn't want him to leave me on my own, but a deal is a deal and I knew there was nothing I could do. I was helpless.

"Please don't cry, you're going to make this even more difficult for me. We'll see each again other soon, so don't worry."

Victor and I a shared a quiet minute with each other, not knowing what more to say as his hands were still folded over mine. Suddenly, he bent his head over further and planted a sweet, passionate kiss on my lips. It only lasted a moment, but it felt like an eternity. The butterflies in my stomach assured me that I never wanted it to end.

"Goodbye, Yuri," the older, silver-haired man told me after pulling away. "I love you."

And with that, he was gone.

--

Today marks a week since Victor was pronounced missing. I will never forget the frantic cries of his fans and the extensive news coverage of his search parties. What happened to him? No one knows, but I know deep down in my heart that he's gone forever, and it has everything to do with that Yurio kid.

I found out right away after the Ice Skating World Cup reported his absence. He never came out when he was supposed to compete, and not a single person could find him anywhere. Not even in his own home.

I'm praying I see him again someday. I'm praying I get to kiss him again and cherish his presence, while he tells me everything is okay and he's getting back in the rink. Lying in my bed next to a vase of freshly picked snow-white roses and rewatching some of his most memorable performances, I come to a consensus. Even if he never comes back, i'm able to reassure myself with one simple fact:

He made history.