It was a small mistake

His partner an accomplice 

He could have fixed it

Chose to ignore it

Time rolled on

Partnership ended

Mistake compounded

No longer a small fix

Mistake frozen solid over time

Cloud hanging over him

Hoping it would go unnoticed

More time passed

Mistake back to haunt him

In a way he never imagined

Ex partner blackmailing

Now skating on thin ice

Offered a difficult choice

Do nothing and be exposed

Pay ransom and be compromised 

It was an agonizing choice

He rejected them both

Opted to confess

Pay penalties for mistake

He bit the bullet

New partner supportive

Medicine tasted sour

He took it well

Long recovery

Mistake finally resolved

Ex partner big loser

He moved forward

No cloud hanging over him

Ice of his mistake finally melted

Forming a beautiful lake

He built a boat

Sailed away on lake

With new partner

Bright future

No more ice skating