Invisible string (lestappen)

Epilogue : Charles

Max and I have been together for a year now. And what a year it has been.

We've been through ups and downs. Thankfully not because of our relationship. No, definitely not. My love for him hasn't stopped growing to the point where it made me realize that I never knew what real love was. How amazingly strong it could be.

But now, I know. Thanks to my childhood rival.

Who would've thought that the blonde boy with the cold attitude would become to most important person in my life ? That he would break every door I had around my heart one by one and make a home there ?

Not me.

Yet, now that I think of it. How could I not ? I was as obsessed with him as I am now. I was just too ignorant to detect the love behind the hate. The caring eyes behind the glares. And the attention-seeking behind every insult.

10 years later, we've moved in together. I was the one who proposed to him since it just felt right. We spent almost every second of our free time together, so why not make it official ?

He said yes right away, and a week later all his stuff was completing my penthouse in Monaco. His toothbrush was next to mine. His gaming set filled my room. And his clothes were hung in a closet I emptied for him.

But I didn't mind. I loved it. Having him with me all the time. Talk about everything. Cook together and pretend like we enjoy the meal when made even though it's disgusting. Watch movies and laugh at the characters.

It made me feel so happy I almost couldn't recognize myself. I wasn't dreaming though. All of this was real. We managed to overcome every obstacle that came at us.

Because yeah, it wasn't that easy at first.

Back when we were in Switzerland, a picture of us kissing leaked. This was the beginning of the end. There were already a lot of rumors but no proof until that day. It was hard. All the negative comments and judgments thrown at us.

I knew it would happen at some point but I guess I wasn't as ready for it as I thought I was.

The whole world learned about my sexuality and I couldn't do anything about it. Thankfully, Max was there for me. We went through it all together and promised each other that we wouldn't let anyone ruin what we had.

Not the media. Not the fans. Not the FIA.

So we decided to cut ourselves from the world. And it was the best decision we made.

The rest of our holiday went really well. It was not easy to pretend like nothing was happening but my family helped a lot with that. I couldn't be more grateful for them. They've welcomed Max in the best way they could have. It was amazing. To see the people I love the most like him just as much as I do.

They get along so well, I'm seriously wondering if they don't love him more than me at this point.

My mum hasn't stopped asking me about him since then, and begging me for us to come have dinner at her place. We've been really busy but I promised her we would. I knew Max would be really excited at the idea.

Unfortunately, things went back downhill when we got back to the real world. To racing. Because it did affect our careers too in a way.

Out in the open, the FIA and every team supported us against the hate. But the truth was entirely different. I could feel the stares, the shocking expressions, and the whispers as I walked down the paddock. How even my team sounded a bit reluctant to the idea of us being together because of how it'd affect the championship.

I had to assure them that it wouldn't make any difference. That we were still us. Max and Charles. Rivals. And that the fact that we now love each other wouldn't change a thing.

We both had to prove ourselves, and to this day I still wouldn't say that everything is resolved. But we're getting there. Slowly but surely. People are starting to accept it a bit more every day. And I decided to only focus on the positive. On those who send us their support. They are the only ones that mattered.

Life got better once I started seeing things that way. And I fully believed that everything would be alright eventually. I just needed to be patient.

Time heals even the deepest wounds. I fully believe that. It's been proven once again by our story.

Because no matter how hard we tried to stay away from each other. Love was stronger in the end.

It always is.

Our lives have been linked since the beginning. And they will always be.

He's always been there.
Now, I finally see it. And I will never look away.

Max is my light in the dark.

My sun in the cold.

My invisible string.

❤️💙