It was a warm afternoon in Monaco, the sun casting a golden glow over the shimmering water of the Mediterranean. Max Verstappen sat on the terrace of his apartment, staring out at the view that should have felt like paradise. But today, the beauty of the city felt distant, overshadowed by the emotions stirring in his heart.
He glanced at the framed photo on the table beside him. It was a picture of him and Y/N, taken just last year at a race in Austria. She was laughing, her arms wrapped around him, her smile radiant. Max remembered that day so clearly—the victory, the adrenaline of the race, and, most importantly, the way Y/N had been there, celebrating with him. But that moment felt like a lifetime ago.
Y/N had been his anchor for years, grounding him through the whirlwind that was his career. Max’s life had always been fast—on the track and off—but with Y/N, everything slowed down. She made him appreciate the quiet moments, the simple joys, like late-night talks on the balcony or lazy mornings spent in bed. But now, those moments felt too fleeting, slipping away faster than he could catch them.
---
"At eighty-six, my grandpa said there's angels in the room..."
Max had grown up hearing stories of his grandfather. He had been a racing enthusiast too, and it was from him that Max had inherited his love for cars and speed. His grandpa had always told him to cherish the time with those he loved, because life moved faster than any car on the track. Max hadn't fully understood that advice—until now.
A few weeks ago, Y/N had received devastating news. Her father had fallen ill, the kind of illness where time wasn’t guaranteed. Without hesitation, she had flown back to her hometown to be with him, leaving Max behind in Monaco. He understood, of course. He would have done the same. But as the days turned into weeks, the distance between them grew, not just physically but emotionally.
Max had tried to be supportive, calling her every day, checking in on her, telling her how much he missed her. But deep down, he knew that what she needed most was time—time with her father, time to process, time to heal. And that was something Max couldn’t control. For the first time in his life, time wasn’t on his side.
---
"Time rolls by, the clock don’t stop..."
It had been two months since she left, and Max had grown restless. Every time he finished a race, he found himself wishing Y/N were there, waiting for him in the paddock, smiling and cheering him on. But instead, he was met with empty hotel rooms and the quiet of his own thoughts. He missed her more than he could put into words.
Then came the phone call that changed everything.
It was late, and Max had just returned to his apartment from a late training session. His phone buzzed on the counter, and when he saw Y/N’s name on the screen, his heart skipped a beat. He quickly answered, but the moment he heard her voice, he knew something was wrong.
“He’s gone, Max,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “My dad… he’s gone.”
Max’s heart sank. He wished he could reach through the phone and hold her, take away her pain, but there was nothing he could say that would make it better.
“I’m so sorry, Y/N,” he said softly. “I wish I was there with you.”
She didn’t say much after that, just that she needed some time, and Max understood. He told her he’d fly out to be with her, but she gently refused, telling him she didn’t want to pull him away from his races. As much as it pained him, he respected her wishes. But all he could think was that he’d give anything for five more minutes with her right then—just to hold her, to be there when she needed him the most.
---
"Wish I had five more minutes..."
The next few days were a blur for Max. He went through the motions—racing, training, press conferences—but his heart wasn’t in it. All he could think about was Y/N. He hadn’t heard from her since that night, and the silence was starting to weigh on him.
One evening, after a long day at the track, Max sat on the balcony of their apartment, the cool breeze brushing against his face. He stared out at the skyline, thinking about how much had changed in such a short amount of time. He missed her laugh, her smile, the way she would lean her head on his shoulder when they sat out here together.
He closed his eyes and whispered to himself, “I’d give anything for five more minutes with her right now.”
He didn’t care about the races, the podiums, or the fame. All he wanted was to rewind time, to go back to when everything felt right, when Y/N was here with him, and their world wasn’t filled with so much loss and distance.
---
"But the good Lord called him home, even though I wasn’t ready..."
A week later, Max was standing in the pit lane, waiting for practice to start. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and when he checked the screen, his heart leapt. It was Y/N. He quickly stepped away from the team, finding a quiet spot in the garage to answer.
“Y/N?” he said, trying to keep the worry out of his voice.
“Max…” Her voice sounded tired, but there was a softness there too, a peace he hadn’t heard in a long time. “I’m sorry I’ve been so distant.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” he replied quickly. “I’ve just been worried about you.”
“I know,” she said, her voice cracking slightly. “It’s been hard, but I’m starting to find my way again. I just needed some time to say goodbye.”
Max swallowed the lump in his throat, wishing more than anything that he could be there with her, but knowing that time was something they couldn’t control.
“I miss you,” he said quietly. “I’d give anything to have five more minutes with you.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line before Y/N spoke again. “I miss you too, Max. I think… I think I’m ready to come home.”
---
"But I’d give anything for five more minutes..."
Two days later, Max stood at the airport, nervously shifting from foot to foot as he waited for her flight to land. When he finally saw her walking towards him, her eyes red from crying but still as beautiful as ever, all the emotions he had been holding in came rushing out.
Without thinking, he closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. She buried her face in his chest, and for a long moment, they just stood there, wrapped in each other’s embrace, neither of them saying a word.
“I’m so sorry, Y/N,” Max whispered. “I wish I could have been there for you.”
“You’re here now,” she replied softly, pulling back slightly to look into his eyes. “That’s all that matters.”
Max nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’d give anything for more time with you.”
She smiled through her tears, resting her hand on his cheek. “We have all the time in the world now, Max. I’m not going anywhere.”
And in that moment, standing there in the middle of the airport, Max knew that no matter how fast life moved, no matter how many races or seasons came and went, nothing was more important than the time they had together. And this time, he wasn’t going to let a single minute slip away.
