Y/N had always been the life of the party, the person everyone turned to when they needed a laugh or a shoulder to cry on. But what most people didn’t know was that behind her bright smile and easygoing demeanor, she was struggling with something much darker. Depression had been a constant companion for as long as she could remember, lurking in the shadows, ready to pull her down when she least expected it.
One person who did know, however, was Pierre Gasly. The two had been best friends since childhood, growing up in the same small town in France. They had been inseparable, sharing everything from their dreams to their fears. Pierre had always been Y/N’s anchor, the one person who could see through her facade and knew when she was hurting.
It wasn’t easy for Pierre to watch his best friend battle something so painful. As much as he wanted to fix it, he knew he couldn’t. All he could do was be there for her, to remind her that she wasn’t alone, no matter how much her mind tried to convince her otherwise.
Their friendship remained strong, even as Pierre’s career in Formula 1 took off. Despite the demands of his racing schedule, he always made time for Y/N, whether it was through late-night phone calls or spontaneous visits home. He’d drag her along to races whenever she could get away, knowing that the excitement of the paddock and the thrill of the track brought a temporary light to her eyes.
But there were days when Y/N couldn’t hide her struggles, not even from Pierre. One day, during a rare break between races, Pierre returned home to find Y/N in the midst of one of her darkest episodes. She hadn’t responded to his texts in days, and when he finally knocked on her door, it took her a long time to answer.
When she did, Pierre’s heart broke. Y/N looked exhausted, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She tried to smile, but it was more of a grimace, as if she couldn’t summon the energy to pretend anymore.
“Hey,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Without a word, Pierre stepped forward and wrapped her in a tight hug. He didn’t let go for a long time, just held her as she trembled in his arms.
“It’s okay,” he murmured. “You don’t have to say anything. I’m here.”
They spent the rest of the day in silence, with Pierre staying by her side, not pushing her to talk or forcing her to cheer up. He knew that sometimes, what she needed most was just someone to sit with her in the darkness, to remind her that she wasn’t facing it alone.
Later that evening, they found themselves sitting on the floor of her living room, surrounded by empty coffee cups and takeout boxes. Y/N finally broke the silence.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice thick with guilt. “I know I’m a mess, and I hate that you have to see me like this.”
Pierre shook his head, his expression soft but firm. “You don’t have to apologize for how you feel, Y/N. I’m your friend, and I’m here because I care about you. You’re not a burden, okay? You never could be.”
Y/N looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes again. “I just… I don’t know how to make it stop, Pierre. Some days it feels like I’m drowning, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t reach the surface.”
Pierre took her hand in his, squeezing it gently. “I can’t imagine how hard it is for you, but I do know that you’re stronger than you think. And you don’t have to go through this alone. We’ll fight this together, one step at a time.”
Y/N nodded, finding comfort in his words, in his unwavering presence. Pierre had always been her rock, and even now, in her darkest moments, he was there, refusing to let her slip away.
In the weeks that followed, Pierre continued to support Y/N in every way he could. He encouraged her to seek professional help, attending therapy sessions and being open about her struggles. He accompanied her to appointments, sat with her during difficult moments, and celebrated her small victories, no matter how insignificant they might seem.
Whenever he was away for races, he made sure to check in with her every day, sending her texts and voice messages filled with encouragement and love. He’d send her photos from the track, funny selfies, and updates on his races, trying to bring a bit of light into her life, even from a distance.
And slowly, Y/N began to feel a shift. She wasn’t “cured”—she knew that depression was something she’d have to manage for the rest of her life—but she started to believe that she could manage it, that she had the strength to face it. And a big part of that strength came from knowing she had someone like Pierre in her corner.
One day, as they sat together on a hill overlooking their hometown, watching the sunset, Y/N turned to Pierre with a small smile.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “For everything. I don’t know where I’d be without you.”
Pierre smiled back, his eyes warm with affection. “You’d be right where you are now, Y/N. Because you’re strong, and you’re brave, and you’re not letting this beat you. I’m just here to remind you of that when you forget.”
Y/N leaned her head on his shoulder, feeling a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in a long time. She knew there would still be tough days ahead, but with Pierre by her side, she felt ready to face them. Their friendship had always been a source of joy, but now it was also her anchor, keeping her grounded when the storm inside her threatened to pull her away.
And as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the landscape, Y/N felt a flicker of hope in her heart. She wasn’t alone, and she never would be, not as long as she had Pierre—her best friend, her anchor, her light in the darkness.
