Hiding In Plain Sight

Hiding in plain sight

~5.5k words. WARNINGS: witness protection/new identity, hints of witnessed murder in the past (no graphic details or descriptions). 

“What’s your name?” 

“Samuel Forbes.”

“And where are you from?”

“Scottsdale, Arizona.”

“What’s your profession?”

“I was a pre-school teacher, but now I want to try something new.”

______________________________________________

Sid remembers his old life like a dream. It was just fourteen months ago that he scored an OT goal or took a hit to the glass, but it seems like a lifetime now. 

Will he ever stop thinking of himself as Sidney Crosby? Will he ever stop looking over his shoulder whenever he’s outside?

He has nightmares still and can’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if he had stayed home that night, or if he’d just refused to testify. Would he still be there, in Pittsburgh?

He was promised anonymity to ensure his safety, but somehow his information leaked. Now he’s here. Sam Forbes, thirty-two, and he’s already moved twice, now living in a small studio apartment in an alright-but-not-fancy area in a midsize town where no one watches hockey. It’s large enough for him to stay anonymous, small enough to keep an eye on. 

His hair is longer, curling more than he prefers these years, and his beard has grown in alright. He wears glasses. Some mornings, he barely recognizes himself. He’s slimmed down, pretends he likes cardio, and it’s been a good way to clear his head. 

The hardest part has been leaving his Canadian accent behind. He managed to keep it over a decade in Pittsburgh, so needless to say, he’s not someone who switches accent automatically when he’s been somewhere long enough. They put him through hours with a coach, new ones every time he’s had to change his story, and so far no one’s doubted him when he’s said he’s from Scottsdale, Arizona. 

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