“I’m here tonight because it heals my heart a tiny bit to share my story and tell you about the boy who died that night. I’d give anything to bring him back, but I can’t, so I try to help others remember him. My husband and I started a foundation in his name, and his family chooses causes he supported to donate money to. Let’s get started with the slideshow.”
I don’t look away once during the hour and ten minutes that Melinda speaks. When she’s finished, the crowd stands to cheer for her, and she’s wiping away tears as she hugs Jack and her children. She comes over to us next, embracing Graysen and then me.
“You were amazing, Melinda,” Graysen says. “I can’t even tell you how good it feels to see how far you’ve come.”
“You were a big part of that,” she says, taking both of Graysen’s hands and then turning to me. “And so were you.”
“I didn’t do much,” I say, shaking my head.
“You know, it was more what you didn’t do that helped me the most,” she says.
“Oh yeah?”
She nods and puts a hand on my upper arm. “You didn’t treat me differently from anyone else. You didn’t look at me like I was a monster.”
I’m shocked by her words. “Melinda, you’re nowhere near a monster.”
“To some people, I am. But I accept that.”
The professor who introduced Melinda comes over to us and asks her, “Can I steal you away? Some alumni and board members want to meet you.”
“I’ll be right there,” she promises, turning back to me and Graysen. “Have you heard from Joe at all?”
I shake my head. “Not since I left him in that hotel room.”
I called Melinda after the incident with Joe, knowing she’d understand and wanting to save her from making the same mistake I did.
“He called me the week after that,” she says. “Told me his wife had left him and he had no place to go. It broke my heart.”
“Did you give him any money?”
“No. I wanted to, but after what you told me…I offered to get him a bed at a homeless shelter someone at Jack’s company is on the board for. He got really angry with me and said some horrible things.”
Graysen sighs. “I’m sorry, Melinda. It was his addiction talking.”
Melinda nods. “I know. I hope he gets help, though.” She looks over at the professor, who’s motioning her over. “I have to go. We’re coming to another Blaze game the week after New Years, maybe we’ll get to see you for a bit?”
“I’d love to sit with you,” Graysen says.
“We’d love that, too.”
“I’ve got hoodies and hats and pucks for all your grandkids,” I say. “They can get them autographed and meet some of the team members.”
Melinda lights up. “That would be wonderful, thank you. You’re their favorite player, you know. They tell all their friends at school that their grandma is friends with a pro hockey player.”
“Always.”
She holds my gaze, a sense of common understanding passing between us. Melinda will always be important to me. We walked through the fire together and both came out on the other side.
I take Graysen’s hand and we walk out of the auditorium, nearly out to the lobby when a group of college-aged guys stop me.
“Hey, are you Alexei Petrov?” one of them asks me.
“I am.”
“Sweet, can we get a picture with you?”
“Sure, man.”
A couple of them pass their phones to Graysen, who takes a few photos of all of us.
“Hey, is it true you got so drunk you took out a barn?” one of them asks me, looking impressed.
“It is true, and I haven’t had a drink since that night.”
“Wow.”
“I was a dumbass, you guys, don’t make the same mistake.”
“No, never,” one of them says. “We always take an Uber. I mean, we would…if we were old enough to drink…sir.”
I laugh. “Just be safe. Have a good night, guys.”
I put my arm around Graysen and we head for the car. “Dinner at my place?” I ask her.
“That sounds good.” She leans in for a quick hug. “I can’t get over how amazing Melinda did back there. I love hearing people open up about mental health. It makes my therapist heart happy.”
“I was thinking about the ripple effect of it all. Speaking out about therapy, medications, and other forms of treatment in a positive light might help others want to take the step towards overcoming their own addictions. Melinda’s tragedy is the reason she went to rehab, but sharing her story might actually prevent another tragedy.”
“That’s…profound.”
“It’s like the way your parents’ addictions led you to help others overcome them. From bad comes good sometimes. And I’m sure the reverse is true.”
She looks up at me. “I never would’ve wished your struggle with addiction on you, but without it, we never would’ve met.”