Thread of Destiny | Lando Norris

Chapter 19: Parallel Paths

The days at the hospital were a blur. Lando's mind echoed with the events leading to the accident— a violent spin, the static over the team radio, and the raging fire. Yet, amidst the blank spaces in his memory, there was no recollection of seeing Eli rush out, no memory of her desperate act to save him. It was as though that part of the race had been wiped clean from his mind. No one else seemed to recall those moments either— all they remembered was the crash and the driver's miraculous escape from the jaws of a care ablaze, not the sight of Eli charging towards it. Well, except for one person—Charles. Being a former guardian angel, it someone allowed him, and him alone, to hold onto the memory of Eli's valiant and selfless intervention to save Lando, a detail that seemed inexplicably erased from everyone else's awareness.

Confusion enveloped him upon waking up in the hospital room. He anticipated her presence, expecting Eli to be the first one by his bedside. But she was nowhere to be found. Lando laid awake at night, staring at the ceiling. He couldn't shake off the lingering absence he felt. Where is she? As the days passed and the hospital's sterile environment turned mundane, the weight of her absence became increasingly apparent. He questioned where she was and why she hadn't shown up as she always did. Physically, he was on the mend. The doctors assured him of a swift recovery, but emotionally, he grappled with an inexplicable void. He'd tried reaching out, scouring through contacts, and even enquiring within the paddock, but all roads led to dead ends. He'd grown accustomed to her being around, her presence a soothing balm even in the most nerve-wracking moments on the track. But now, the sudden absence left an inexplicable emptiness in his life. Every familiar laugh, her calming words of assurance, and the sparkle in her eyes haunted his thoughts. Lando couldn't help but feel an unmistakable sense of loss.

Upon discharge, back in Monaco, a city that once held fond memories of unexpected encounters and burgeoning friendship with Eli, now felt hauntingly empty. Winter break descended, marking the end of the season, yet brought no relief from his emotional turmoil. Every corner of the principality reminded him of her— the harbour-side bench where they'd often chat, the streets they walked together. Desperate to find her, he made endless attempts to reach out, but every call and text to her number ended in frustration— blocked. His search for her became a daily routine, including a ritualistic pilgrimage to the Port Hercule every evening, hoping she'd miraculously appear. The longing in his heart only deepened as each day passed with no sign of her. He would even meet up with Charles, hoping for answers. Yet, the conversations left him disappointed. Charles evaded divulging Eli's whereabouts, "I'm sorry mate, I wish I knew too. But even if I did, it wouldn't be my place to say." His response, masking the truth behind guarded words left Lando with a hollow promise of ignorance. In a final act of desperation, the culmination of his quest brought him to her house, knocking on the door, anticipation curdling into dismay as a stranger greeted him. The sinking realisation dawned on him— the person he cherished, whose absence had cast an irremovable shadow over his life, had vanished without a trace. Unanswered questions lingered, leaving him in a state of melancholy and confusion.

Eli, on the other side of it all, settled back into the rhythm of her life in London, pouring herself into her final year of music studies with an unwavering dedication. Each note she practiced, bore the echoes of her passion and resilience. The weight of the past year's extraordinary events still lingered in her mind, a silent spectre that occasionally intruded upon her focus. Of course, she still longed to be by Lando's side, to see him again to reassure herself of his recovery and just be with him. However, the reality loomed— she knew she had to move on and that perhaps, it was better for everyone that way. The only connection she had to that past life was Charles, who she kept in touch with. After all, he was the only one with the memory of her last act as Lando's guardian angel and he was always a supportive presence in her journey. Although she aimed to move forward, there were moments where the memory of the F1 season and her time as a guardian angel, her time with Lando, pulled at her heartstrings, a testament to the profound impact those experiences had etched upon her soul. But despite the emotional burden she carried, Eli remained steadfast in her determination to forge ahead. Music became her sanctuary once again, a place where she could channel her emotions, both the joy and the sorrow, into something beautiful. Her commitment to her studies was also partly fuelled by a sense of gratitude toward Lando, a muse who had unknowingly inspired her and pushed her on. The bracelet, still living on her wrist, now adorned with ten darkened pearls, remained a constant reminder of the intense journey she had travelled alongside Lando.