False God

Chapter fourteen

2020

Max POV

The vacations are officially over, and my father is officially back, after the first few seconds we spent together I catch myself thinking how nice it would be if he were still sick, dealing with him through messages and calls is hard enough, but his mere presence makes me cringe. He doesn't let me forget for a second that not getting second place in the championship would be a failure, as if he hadn't reminded me enough throughout the season.

All he does until we get to Germany is talk about the race, as usual, except that this week is my birthday, and the thought that he might act at least once as if he cares about me quickly falls apart, just like all the years before, all that matters and has always mattered are my results on the track.

Friday, the day of FP1, FP2 and my birthday, I'm woken up by a very cheerful and noisy Charles, he always loved birthdays, he always told me that birthdays were about celebrating life, and that even though disappointed with life, this date was a new starting point, and that the unpredictability that came with the prospect of each new cycle to be experienced was captivating, Charles is indeed a poet when he wants to be, I've always found unpredictability frightening, but my best friend thinks that the fact that the best moment of our lives is in the future is something stimulating, considering that in the future we're all going to die I don't know if he's right, but I won't tell him that, a happy Charles makes me happy.

I take calls from Vic and my mother and think how much I wish they were here, over the years I rarely had them present on my birthdays, with my father always around me, it was difficult for my mother to come, sometimes Vic would come, but as she built her life, she ran out of time, and now with the baby coming at the end of the year her time has become more and more scarce, but I'm happy to have a nephew on the way.

I meet up with my dad to go to the paddock and all he says is 'Happy Birthday' and pats me on the back, I feel like I'm a pet and he says "good job" for peeing in the right place, I wish I could remember when was the last time my dad treated me like a son and not a formula 1 driver, but considering he raised me solely to be a driver it's hard to have any fond memories with him.

When I arrive in the paddock I get a lot of congratulations, and it's a nice feeling to know that people remember when it's your birthday, even if some are just protocol, it's still nice. Daniel and Lando are a show apart when they see me, it's funny to know that they'll be teammates next year, they really complement each other, in a chaotic and funny way at the same time. As always Red Bull sings 'Happy Birthday' to me and I always feel welcome when I see that they dedicated their time making cakes to celebrate my birthday, even though I never ate the cakes, because my dad thinks it's not good to eat those things during race week, I feel grateful.

LH [9:11 am]

-Happy Birthday Maxy <3

Me [9:15 am]

-Thank you <3

LH [9:15 am]

-I saw the cakes and decorations in the garage that your team made, they really treat you with great affection, I hope you are enjoying it.

Me [9:16 am]

- They're amazing, but I can't eat those things on race week, not with my dad here.