Formula 1 | One Shots

God Knows I Tried | Max Verstappen

Author's Note: ⚠️  Warning for mentions of terminal sickness. Sorry in advance ❤️ 

Done in reader's POV. Longer story!
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Six months and three days, that's how long we have left. 267,840 minutes. Time is such a blessing and a curse. Time is incredibly limited, so hug your loved ones and tell them how much they mean to you. I wish we had more time, but the cards weren't in our favor. I remember holding back my choked sobs as the doctor relayed this information to me over the phone after blood results. Rare disease. Incurable. Hereditary. Unexplainable. Not your fault.

I knew life was unfair, but this just seemed wrong. Despite making many mistakes in my life, I had zero regrets. If I could go back and live life again, I'd choose everything the same way. I remember the first time I got the biggest news of my life.

The biggest change in my life happened when I found out I was pregnant at 20. I was terrified and unprepared. My boyfriend at the time, made it clear he wanted nothing to do with the baby. He vanished from my life as quickly as I told him I was pregnant. My parents, wealthy and high-class, were outraged by my decision to keep the baby. They gave me an ultimatum; either give up the baby or be kicked out. I chose the easy answer.

Serena blessed my life in so many more ways than words can describe. Like her mother she was curious, stubborn, loving, sweet and everything a baby girl should me. Despite being the best blessing in my life, times were hard. Freshly living alone and working part-time was a constant struggle. I juggled waitressing jobs, picking up shifts whenever I could, often working late nights. I used what little cash I had to pay someone to watch Serena while I worked. My days were filled with exhaustion and little time for myself, but Serena's happiness made it all worth it. 

My parents cut off all contact. They didn't want the shame of me ruining their reputation. The only family member who stood by me was my brother, James. He was my rock. His support, both financial and emotional, was a lifeline for me at times. Every step was a battle, but looking at Serena, I knew I'd made the right choice. She was my world and I was hers.

I remember the first time she opened her eyes in my arms. Her first steps. Her first word. The first time she told me she loved me. The first time she hugged me.

"Mommy what's wrong?" my beautiful baby girl asked me, taking me out of my own thoughts. "Nothing sweetheart, mommy is just looking for Formula One tickets. It's always been our dream to go to one one in person, right?" 

I watched as her eyes lit up with excitement as she clapped her little hands repeatedly. Her uncle loved Formula One and of course it rubbed off on her, she was obsessed. James and I grew up going to Silverstone every year for the Grand Prix before I left home. Serena's favorite team was Redbull and Max Verstappen was her favorite driver. She called him Maxie every time we watched the races on TV. I was more of a Ferrari girl myself, but pretended I loved Redbull just as much as she did when we watched the races together. 

I watched her go back to her to her toys while I scrolled through the Formula One website. Tickets were expensive for the races, but I wanted to make this a memory she would never forget of the two of us, possibly one of the last memories we had together. Silverstone was the next race coming up in 2 months, so I drained what little I had left in my savings and purchased Paddock 3 day passes for the two of us. If we were going to a race, we were going to do it right.

It physically hurt to spend nearly all my money on the tickets, but seeing Serena so excited was worth it. I was determined for to her to meet her hero and watch her favorite team race. I made all the arrangements for Silverstone at the end of July.