I remember

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Monday 14th August 2023

Lando POV

I can feel the asphalt beneath my feet, smell the cars in the garages, and hear the fans chanting my name, but when I open my eyes and look around, there's no cars and no fans. Silverstone is eerily quiet. Just the sound of the flags flapping in the wind. I start to walk down the main straight, looking for any sign of life, but the stands are all empty. As I get to the first corner the memory of this year's grand prix makes me smile, that was an incredible weekend, one I'll never forget. I can almost, still taste the champagne.

As I make my way round the circuit, walking first round Luffield devoid of the usual crowd that sits on the slight hill and then through Copse, I start to hear a voice. To begin with they sound really far away, maybe there are people in the stands after all, but by the time I get back to the start line I still haven't seen anybody. I decide to lay on the ground my eyes looking up at the sky. That's when I hear her, as clear as day. She's reciting Harry Potter, The Goblet of Fire, if I'm not mistaken. But why can't I see her? I find her voice comforting, like I'm being cocooned in a warm, comfy blanket and I suddenly find myself feeling tired. Just as I'm closing my eyes I feel her next to me and her hand grasps mine. I turn to look at her, she still takes my breath away with how beautiful she is, even with the tears that are running down her cheeks. Wait why is she crying?

'I need you to come back to me Lan. I need you to know that I didn't sleep with Oscar, that he made it all up. Please Lan, I can't do this without you. I love you so much. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, have your babies, watch you win your first world championship. The world seems so empty without you here. Please come back to me.'

I don't understand, I'm right next to her but when I try to reply no words come out of my mouth. I try to squeeze her hand in response, but I now can't move. What is going on?

The darkness pulls at the sides of my vision. There's nothing I want more than to stay here with her, but I can't beat the exhaustion and as my eyes close I feel her hand slip away.

Sienna POV

The warm breeze blowing through the open door causes the thin curtains to seem like they're shivering. I can feel it against my back but as I go to pull the sheet up over my body I notice that the space beside me is empty, only an indent on his pillow remains.

I can smell freshly brewed coffee so I follow my nose to the kitchen. I know he's been here as there's a glass next to the sink with the residues of his drink in the bottom, milk obviously. I roll my eyes as I rinse it out; I know how hard milk is to clean off once it's sat for a while.

I take my coffee out onto the veranda and take a deep breath of the sea air. I shield my eyes against the sun and look down to the beach. There's a little girl in a frilly swimsuit paddling by the waters edge, giggling every time the waves come up and cover her feet, her mum right beside her holding her hand. As I watch them, a man, who I presume is the dad of the little girl, runs towards them scoops the girl into his arms and spins her around, causing her to shriek with laughter and her demands of 'again, again' bring a smile to my face. I can't wait to have that.

I look further up the beach and spot the curls I've been searching for. I'd know those curls anywhere. It wasn't unusual for him to take himself off for a morning walk, he always said it was a good way for him to clear his mind. I put down my coffee cup, grab my cover up and clamber after him. However, no matter how far I walk I don't seem to be able to catch him, he remains the same distance away, even though the beach house is now just a dot on the landscape behind me.

'Lando' I call out, 'wait.'

He turns towards me, gives me a sad smile and walks away.

'Sienna! Sienna! Sienna!'

I'm jolted out of my dream by a banging on my hotel room door. I run to open it, swerving a fist as it goes to hammer on the door again.

'Max! What the hell?' I take in his dishevelled appearance, the bloodshot eyes and my heart freezes.

'Sienna, it's Lando'