everything has changed ➺ charles leclerc

seven - angeli

— angeli

TODAY IS MY FIRST DAY attempting to walk without assistance. My physical therapist and I have been working extremely hard for me to be able to walk without my crutches or a wheelchair. I've regained almost full mobility for my lower body and my leg strength is so much better than it was before. Charles is coming to pick me up after my physical therapy session and we're going out to his boat to celebrate. Over the past few weeks we've been slowly repairing our friendship from the whole 'ignoring each other' fiasco, and I think it's been going well. I'm still not fully adjusted to the fact that I'm supposed to already be twenty-five, when I was just eighteen three months ago. Bellie and the rest of the guys have been helping with it though, treating me as if I'm just a regular girl.

"Okay, Angeli. I want you to let go of your crutches, and walk over to me." My physical therapist, Brina, says from the other end of the room. I take a deep breath and let go of my crutches, looking directly at her. She gives me an encouraging thumbs up as I begin to attempt walking.

"One foot in front of the other, Angeli. You've been doing this your whole life." I mumble to myself, watching my steps closely. I'm halfway across the room when I look up and see Charles standing at the door. He gives me an encouraging smile and wave as he walks over to where Brina is. He whispers something into her ear, and they continue whispering to each other for a moment. She then nods and moves over.

"Just kidding, Angeli! You're walking to the rightmost end of the room now." She smiles as Charles makes his way over to me, a mischievous glint in his eyes. 

"You're joking! That's so much farther Brina!" I whine, pausing in my tracks. The room is rectangular, with me walking from the back of the room to the front of it, which is the shortest possible distance. Now, she wants me to walk all the way to the rightmost end of the room, which is arguably the farthest distance for me to walk.

"Charles said you could do it." She shrugs as I glare at the Monegasque beside me. "I'm gonna hurt you, Charles."  I say through gritted teeth as he simply smiles back at me.

"You can do this, Angeli. I'm right here with you every step of the way." He whispers into my ear, sending goosebumps throughout my entire body. I involuntarily shudder at his words and at his touch, as he now has an arm wrapped around my waist. His touch sends fire to my body, making me feel alive.

"I'm going to let go of you now, okay?" He whispers again, looking straight into my eyes. I nod, stuck in a trance. When his arm leaves my waist I suddenly feel cold, as he walks towards the part of the room I need to get to.

Right foot.
Left foot.
Right foot.
Left foot.

"You can do it, Angeli! Just a bit more!" I hear Brina cheer loudly as I remain focused on my steps. My right foot falters and I see Charles about to come to me in my peripheral vision, but Brina holds him back and shakes her head. She believes I can do this.

I look up and make eye contact with Charles, who smiles at me. That stupid smile with that stupid crinkle and his stupid pretty eyes. He nods for me to keep going, and somehow, I feel like a superhero. Walking begins to come more naturally, and I don't find myself reciting 'Right foot, Left foot' as I approach Charles, our intense eye contact fueling me with power.

"You did it!" Charles yells happily, lifting me in the air and spinning me around. I yelp happily, holding onto him as he continues to spin me. He puts me down and wraps me into a warm embrace.

Charles knows how difficult this journey has been for me— not being able to go out with our friends because I can't walk on my own, not being able to live the normal life i've just wanted to live. He knows how many hours I spend on the treadmill at his apartment, trying to get my leg muscles strong again as he trains for races. He knows how much I've wanted to be able to walk on my own, and not be limited to a stupid pair of crutches anymore.