NIGHT CHANGES || Oscar Piastri

7.

I didn't expect to wake up at midnight.

Usually I was used to waking up during day time, but my brain called a full rest during the day. I was asleep, Oscar had told me while I was still in the bed. By the time the doctors had ran multiple tests on me and said that I was in the progress of waking up, but not yet secured. Oscar ran in to visit me everyday after the race - it had already been a full week and the Saudi Arabian GP had ended. Next stop was his home Grand Prix, the Australian GP. 

He had a few days before heading off again, trying to visit me as much as possible during his free time. Lando did too - talked about the funny businesses happening in F1, and how Daniel was complaining all the time of not having my laugh all the time. A few drivers even got bored - Charles, Pierre and Carlos. I wasn't used to them getting excited over me or so.

But I soon realised every time I was around, the mood usually got better. Mum and Dad paid me weekly or daily visits, and Oli, Flo and Cisca as well. They had visited at least once a week, Oli reporting the weird things happening in their neighbourhood, Cisca and Flo telling me about the horses' health. They were getting better after recieveing an injection. 

I was used to Oscar or Lando sleeping overnight at the hospital whenever they had time or basically could. They provided extra foldable beds that were surprisingly comfortable, Oscar had told me once. Mum came over more frequently to give me a wash and a change of clothes while I was still strapped to the boring beeping machines I heard every day.

Sometimes the doctors would turn on the live race for me to listen to - I wasn't able to watch, show emotions or celebrate for them, but I was able to cheer for them in my heart, just silently. I knew Lando and Oscar had both tried their best, but it just wasn't a great start to the season for McLaren.

I did have a few encounters with Amelia, but in my dreams.

That night, I had drifted off to sleep hearing Lando's calm breathing. In the dream I was back in the hospital that I recieved the news Amelia had died. But she wasn't - she was sitting in the waiting room, her knuckles completely white and her face pale. I almost didn't recognise her - she was so much older, more mature and more steady in person.  

Her brown hair was swept back and her blue eyes had shown in a shade of sadness. The usual smile on her face I saw every day back then at school had  mysteriously vanished. She was wearing a simple white shirt and some dark jeans. 

Her face when she saw me was more like an excited look. She looked the exact same back then every day I appeared outside the school gates, clutching my bag in my hands. We'd link arms and walk into the school building like anything or anyone didn't bother us. The teachers often described us as being 'unbreakable' and 'glued together'. 

"Ali!" Her voice was a bit lighter and deeper at the same time. "I missed you so much. Sit down, we have to talk about everything that has happened while I was gone." 

Tears had streamed down my face. "You're dead, Am. You can't be here."

"What?" The sudden happiness faded away on her face quickly. "I-I know. It's just that... I can't. I'm not able to go until you let me go. I know you're still mourning, Ali. But it's time to let go of me, for once, like your friend Oscar said."

"How about me?" I asked. "How can I see you? How can I feel you?"

"That is very much confusing to me too," Am frowned. "But the only answer I can give you is that this might be the last time I am seeing you in a dream. Once my soul's completely faded into Heaven, I can only view from there. Not to visit you anymore. I may be granted a few times or so, but not too frequently." 

"I-I'm so sorry," I mumbled. "If it weren't for that fight, you would still be alive and well. Seeing how successful Lando is on your own. Alive and well, watching him at every race. You could've had a family together. I wish you could see how he's growing over the years - but he still hasn't hit puberty."

"Well-" She smirked. "Just you know I can see him, but I can't talk to him or touch him. I'm at every single Grand Prix he's at, Ali. You just don't know. I was right next to you one time, and I was scared. Because you sensed my presense."

"I knew it, at Silverstone," I smiled slyly. "But why did you come see me now?"

"To tell you my death wasn't your fault," Am sighed and glanced at the two open doorways. Outside one of them, it was just a brilliant, white glow. It was tempting me to walk into it. The other one was a view of me sleeping peacefully. "And to tell you Oscar's a good influence. He loves you to pieces."

"R-really?" She nodded. "I- thank you."

"No problem," Am grinned. "And one more thing - you have two choices. That door, or this door. The glowing door is where you can join me, eternal happiness. The door where you can see yourself is where you might have a chance of being alive."

"So, Heaven?" I asked. She nodded. "Eternal happiness." I repeated, copying her tone. "Amelia, I'm sorry, but I can't leave Lando or Oscar or anyone in my family on Earth. I know I want to join you, but... I can't leave Oscar or anyone that I love being with. My heart's in the right place and I think Oscar's is too."

"You've made a right choice," Amelia supressed a smile. "It's time for me to go."

"Forever?" I was starting to panic. 

"No, what I mean is that you know I've forgiven you and you can go off in peace. Me as well." She explained, comforting me while rubbing my back. "Not forever. From time to time I am granted permission to come and see you in your dreams, but not often."

"Right," I muttered. "I'll miss you, Am." We hugged tightly for a moment, as she strode away to the glowing door. I watched her disappeared in a distance. I decided to walk back to the door. Suddenly I was back in the darkness.

It was one time. Just once.

"Wake up, please..." Oscar muttered beside my bed before he drifted off as well. "I miss you."

A few days had passed since the weird dream, but I sensed another burden lifted off of me. The Australian GP was nearing, but Oscar wasn't ready to let go. He decided to stay for a few more days before he headed off to his home GP.

I was sad. Why couldn't I just wake up and kiss him?

My emotions were growing, you see. Every minute passed and I was just getting bored to being in a fucking coma, not able to do anything I like. My throat was dry and I was starving for food. As the clock striked midnight, it was enough. I burst out of my deep sleep control.

When I mean burst out, I mean burst out.

I literally sat up in the middle of the night, throwing the oxygen mask off while Oscar was still on his phone, his back facing me. He hadn't noticed. Slowly I crept towards him, my heart beating fast. I just threw myself on him, as he gasped.

"Ali?" The shocked face turned around as I tearfully nodded. There was a moment of silence and hesitation before he threw his phone on the bed, accepting the fact I was awake and hugging me tightly. "I love you so much." 

Gently he pressed his lips against mine, hoisting me onto his lap before cupping my face and placing his arms around me. 

We stayed like that for just about a minute or two before he convinced me to get back to bed. The covers were pulled up to chin level. But I pulled him back before he could leave. 

"Come on," I rolled my eyes as he tried to go back. "Sleep with me."

"But-"

"Piastri, we're dating now," I muttered aggressively as I pulled him down. "Just wake up before the time the doctors come. Eleven?"

"I'll wake up at Ten forty-five then." He set an alarm on his phone as I snuggled up to him quite warmly. Oscar was just warm and snuggly, I couldn't descibe him as anything else. "Good night, beautiful."

"Shut up," I snorted rudely. 

"Love you too."