Take on the world

9 - May 2018

One month later

It had been a month since Cassie had passed away, in that month, Max had become more aggressive in his training, he was pushing himself, wanting to make Cassie proud, make her memory proud, before he got crashed into by Estoban Ocon and crashed into the barrier, he got out and growled removing his helmut and balaclava as he sighed, taking his gloves off as he looked at his wedding band. He felt like he had failed her, and he didn't know what to do, he felt like he had let Cassie down.

I'm 10 miles from town and I just broke down
Spittin' out smoke on the side of the road
I'm out here alone, just tryna
get home, tell you I was wrong
but you already know

Walking into the redbull garage, he headed straight for the motorhome, going into his driver room, he picked up the picture of him and Cassie on their wedding day, he smiled running his thumb over her face, as he pressed his lips to the picture.

Believe me, I won't stop at nothin'
to see you, so I've started runnin'
all that I'm after is a life full of laughter
as long as I'm laughin' with you

Cassie couldn't help but laugh as Max fell off her bed, granted she had kicked him off it, but he had decided to star out in the middle as she shook her head, as she kissed his cheek, as he climbed back on her bed, he pulled her into his arms as she smiled, she had gotten weaker, but she was determined to walk down the aisle.

I'm thinkin' all that still matters is
love ever after
after the life we've been through
cause I know there's no life after you

Max looked at Cassie, as she laid in the hospital bed, hooked up to her treatment as he kissed her head, before helping her get a drink of water, "As long as there's love, that's all that matters, but I also know that there is no life after you Cass, I'm going to be living half alive." Max spoke as she nodded her head, kissing his knuckles as she held his hand in hers.

The last time we talked, the night that I walked
burns like an iron in the
back of my mind
I must've been high, to say you and I weren't meant to be
and just wasting my time

Cassie sighed as she was sat in her bed in her room and she looked at Max "Cancel the wedding, we aren't getting married, we weren't meant to have a happily ever after, we were never meant to be, it's over, we're over, so please get out." She spoke as she shook, she had been feeling selfish, why would he want to be with her? He could have anyone he wanted and she felt like he shouldn't have to deal with her. "Cassie, I'm not going anywhere, we are going to get married, and we are going to live it to the best of our ability, do you understand? I love you, I always have and I always will, you are my happy ending, I'd rather have you than someone who only wants me for being a racer." He spoke cupping her face in his hands as he pressed his lips to hers.

You know I would die here without you
all that I'm after, is a life full of laughter
as long as I'm laughing with you
I'm thinkin' that all still matters
is love ever after
after the life we've been through
I know there's no life after you

After the funeral, Max headed to the room he shared with Cassie, as he looked at the photo album of their memories, he felt the tears falling down his cheeks, as he shook, before he laid down on their bed and cried, he didn't know how to live a life without her.

You and I, right or wrong
there's no other one
after this time I spent alone
it's hard to believe that a man
with sight could be so blind
thinkin' bout the better times
must've been out of my mind

Max sat outside her room as she had been getting sicker and he didn't know how he could even function watching her get sicker as he sighed, before he saw Christian, "You know, for her husband, you're doing a crappy job of being there for her, in sickness and in health Max, you don't get to choose." He spoke as the Dutchman nodded his head, before he headed into the room where his wife was.

So I'm running back to tell you
all that I'm after is a life
full of laughter
as long as I'm laughing with you
I'm thinking that all that still matters
is love after ever
after the life we've been through
I know there's no life after you

Max took a deep breath as he looked at the picture, "I know there's no life after you Cassie." He whispered before getting up and he headed to the hospitality before he was stopped by Ocon, "Dude I didn't mean to crash into you, but if you weren't speeding up, maybe you shouldn't have come back yet, they would've understood, so would Cassie." He spoke before Max had him against the wall.

"Don't ever mention her name, keep her name out of your mouth, do not EVER talk about my wife again." Max all but growled, his blue eyes alight with fury before he shoved Ocon before releasing him and walking away. He was furious, Ocon had no right to even mention Cassie, he didn't know her, he didn't know that he had promised Cassie that he would continue to train, continue to race, for her, and he intended to honour that promise to her.

He knew that he was missing a part of him, but he and Clary had become close and decided that they would honour the promises they made to Cassie, they would look out for each other.

Cassie had her eggs harvested,after she turned 16, and he had donated sperm, shortly after their engagement, when they discussed having children once she beat the disease, but that wasn't possible, however, Cassie and Max had spoken to Clary and they had gotten her to be their surrogate, something she was happy to do for her two best friends. Max would have a piece of Cassie, and Clary would be the best aunt to her niece or nephew.