„You look like you do this since forever."
_-_-_-_-_
Daniel Ricciardo is 35 years old and his life change in few seconds. It was his best drive since he left Red Bull but it end up with accident and now he had to left Formula one world.
His parents...
His eyes were fixed on Alira, and he couldn't tear them away.
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"What are all these people doing here?" Alira wondered as she approached the main entrance of the zoo. It was six in the morning, and she was about to start her daily work caring for the animals. A long line stretched in front of the gate, made up of dozens, possibly hundreds, of people. Everyone was pushing and craning their necks to see the gate, clearly waiting for something. Or someone. Alira realized immediately.
Without hesitation, she turned around and ran back toward her home. She needed to warn someone. She had to get that person into the zoo through the back entrance or advise them to take sick leave. Because all those people were there for one person.
Daniel Ricciardo. No one else could draw crowds to the zoo two hours before opening. Alira was aware of all the events that took place at the zoo throughout the year, and nothing special was scheduled in the near future. The only logical explanation was the former Formula 1 driver.
In less than ten minutes, she reached Daniel's house. At that moment, she had surpassed herself, running faster than ever before, even faster than in high school when she needed a top grade in gym class. When she finally stopped in front of the front door, her breath was coming heavily, but there was no time to rest. Her heart was pounding like mad as she knocked on the door and waited anxiously. Her mind was swirling with thoughts and fears that Daniel might not be there. Her body was filled with a mix of adrenaline and desperation. She needed to find him, and fast.
Fortunately, the door opened, and there stood Daniel, dressed in his work uniform. A blue shirt with a yellow Perth Zoo logo on the right side of his chest and his name, Daniel, on the left. Alira breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing him. She felt like hugging him, perhaps out of sheer joy at finding him or because she had just run a mile and a half, although she wasn't in shape and her brain was desperately craving oxygen.
"Al? What are you doing here?" he asked, surprised, stepping aside so she could come in. She did so without hesitation and headed straight for a chair, sinking into it and trying to catch her breath.
"You don't go running, so something must have happened if you're knocking on my door this early and out of breath. Plus, I doubt you went for a run in your work clothes," Daniel said as he knelt in front of her and placed his hands on her thighs. The sight of her eyes somewhat reassured him—she didn't look like she was crying, which allowed him to rule out the worst scenarios that had flashed through his mind the moment he saw her. She looked more surprised than scared or sad.
"I had to see you, immediately," Alira replied, her voice still trembling from exertion and emotion. "Something important is happening, and I didn't know who else to turn to."
Daniel frowned, his worried gaze not leaving her face. "I'm here, Al. Tell me what's going on."
Alira took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. She needed to explain everything that had brought her here, but she also knew she had to be quick and precise.
