Unsteady

by Peyton Corinne · 2023

Rhys Koteskiy, the celebrated captain of Waterfell University’s hockey team and heir to an NHL legacy, suffers a devastating concussion during the Frozen Four that leaves him haunted by nightmares and panic attacks on the ice. Struggling to find purpose, he volunteers at the First Line Foundation, where he meets Sadie Brown, a fierce figure‑skater who works as a barista while caring for her two younger brothers and battling an abusive, alcoholic father. Their worlds collide when Sadie witnesses one of Rhys’s panic attacks and offers him comfort. As they grow closer, Rhys helps Sadie confront her family’s trauma, while Sadie’s resilience pulls Rhys back toward healing and a renewed love for skating. Together they navigate trauma, custody battles, and the pressures of elite sport, discovering that love and chosen family can steadify even the most unsteady hearts.