Petrol in his Veins // Charles Leclerc

18

With each passing day, Charles' recovery edged closer to normalcy. The removal of the plaster cast from his arm marked a significant milestone. Now, he only wore a supportive brace, which opened up a world of new possibilities he could only dream of before. The regular physiotherapy sessions with Andrea had become a steady part of his daily routine by now, aiding him in regaining the mobility of his hand and fingers.

Upon the advice of Andrea and Fred, the Ferrari team manager, Charles had also attended several sessions with the team's psychologist. These conversations assisted him in processing the traumatic events of the crash and working on the heavy emotional burdens he carried. He began to slowly let go of things rather than swallow them, bringing a certain lightness back into his being.

The day he visited the Ferrari factory in Maranello was a special one. From the moment he entered the facility, he could feel the pulsating heartbeat of Scuderia Ferrari, still as strong as ever. Reuniting with his colleagues, engineers, and everyone working behind the scenes was overwhelming. Their eyes revealed their relief in having him back and witnessing his progress.

Matteo, one of the older mechanics, approached him and embraced him tightly. "Bello rivederti, campione," (Nice to see you again, champion) he whispered. Others followed suit, and soon Charles found himself enveloped in a sea of hugs and words of encouragement.

Later in the day, as he sat in one of the meeting rooms discussing future races and strategies with the team, he finally felt like a race car driver again. He knew the road to full recovery still laid ahead, but he wasn't alone anymore. He felt like he was home again.

The moment that was particularly touching was when he stood in front of his race car. The shiny red machine, in which he had achieved so many victories, waited patiently for his return. Charles placed his hand on the cold metal and smiled. "I'll be back with you soon," he whispered softly, taking another look at the car. Jolie had accompanied him to Maranello, feeling more at ease knowing his condition. However, she kept her distance to allow him to fully focus on Ferrari. He needed to soak in all the emotions, gathering strength for the upcoming weeks until he could get back in the car. As he approached his car, she filmed that moment. Her hand trembled slightly with pride and relief, noticing Charles looked at his race car with anticipation rather than fear.

In the evening, as they sat in their hotel room in Maranello, Jolie kissed Charles on the cheek and gently remarked, "Maranello is really good for you." She felt a shift in him, a growing optimism. She then pulled out her phone and showed him the video she had taken. On the screen, he appeared content and joyful in front of his race car. Charles smiled and inquired, "Can you post it?" He wanted the world to know how much that moment meant to him.

Jolie looked at him, surprised, but with a smile, she nodded in agreement. She uploaded the video, tagging him but added no caption. The video spoke for itself. Charles took his phone and shared it on his story.

"Maybe we can attend a race soon, if you'd like?" Jolie suggested, looking at Charles questioningly. Since the accident in Monaco, he had avoided reporters and hadn't attended any races. Now, he seemed ready to dive back into the world of motorsports, and he wanted Jolie by his side. Jolie noticed a shift in Charles' expression after she posed the question. His eyes darkened slightly, and she could feel the internal tension building within him. She took his hand, squeezing it firmly. "You don't need to rush anything, Charles. I'll be by your side, no matter what you decide."

He took a deep breath and leaned into the soft cushions of the sofa. "It's not the race itself, Cherie. It's the idea of facing all those reporters. They have so many questions, and I'm not sure if I'm ready to answer them all."