Tuesday Tales and Photo Prompt

Ahoy Fellow Fathomers! It's time for Tuesday Tales.

A group of writers gather together and give our interpretation of a specific word prompt each week. Once per month, we write to a photo.  You never know what you might encounter when you get inside our minds.  This will be an excerpt from my brand new yet-to-be-named WIP.

Enjoy!~

Laurel Cranmer made tracks down the snow-covered mountain.  Her skis laid curling ribbon trails as she sliced through the freshly fallen snow.  When she increased speed, the whoosh of her motion kicked up puffs of icy residue resembling smoke. This place was her paradise on earth. 

Matthew followed closely behind, although he gave her several seconds head start.  He skied faster than she did in head-to-head racing, but he decided to let her have this one.  Lately, his interests involved more things outside the competitive ski racing circuit. He wished Laurel felt the same way, but he knew that would be impossible.  She had potential he never had.

Matthew knew his limits, and although a top-notch skier in his own right, he would never see Olympic glory.  Training remained his expertise.  He coached future Olympic champions, and he savored every moment with the young hopefuls. He knew their feelings of intensity and the desire to be the best. He spent almost twenty years in their skis. For all his dedication, he still failed to top the podium. 

Long ago, he let go the resentment and accepted his shortcomings. He pushed his energy toward building champions and found his niche. He instituted more success than he ever dreamed watching those rosy-cheeked youngsters beam wearing medals and waving first toward their parents-then he.  He knew he found his place and it satisfied him.  However, he lacked love and for the first time in his life, it saddened him.

 Laurel skied in that crowd of hopefuls he coached. Matthew met her eight years prior. She was a gangly teenager who almost could not control her long, quickly growing legs. Laurel smiled appropriately, yet remained aloof.  Even as a teenager, she refrained from engaging in silliness. She let nothing or no one detract her from her goals.