Eyes Don't Lie | Charles Leclerc

Part 33 | Decode

April 23, 2023

It's been a month since that day in Bahrain, and everything has changed, almost too perfectly. I still remember the way Aria hesitated when I asked her to come to the race with me...as mine. The hesitation in her eyes had nearly crushed me, but when she finally said yes, something clicked between us. 

We didn't need to announce it to the world. We weren't ready for that, not yet. So we kept things discreet, just the way we needed it to be. She didn't enter the paddock with me. We kept a bit of distance, enough that no one would ask questions, but close enough that I knew she was there. Her presence was everything, even from the sidelines. Every time I caught a glimpse of her, my confidence skyrocketed. 

I had always thought racing was something I had to do alone, but with her, it felt different. Like I had someone outside of the track who was just as invested in me, not the driver, but me as a person.

The weeks flew by after that race. One by one, the results started to turn in my favor. I felt like my old self again, maybe even better. Bahrain was followed by another podium in Jeddah, and by the time we hit Australia, I was standing on the top step. It felt like a dream, but the kind of dream that I had control over, like everything I'd worked for was finally coming together. And now, a month later, I'm just five points behind Max in the championship. Five. 

If someone had told me this was how things would go after the mess of last season, I wouldn't have believed them. But here I am, feeling like I'm finally back. Ferrari's leading the constructors' title, the team's energy is at an all time high, and the car feels like a rocket. 

It's strange, though. As much as I've been grinding through every session, every race, part of my mind keeps drifting back to Aria. She's been there through it all, quietly supportive, always in the background. We've managed to keep our relationship out of the media spotlight, and honestly, it's been a relief. I've seen what happens when too much attention is put on personal lives, and I didn't want that for us. Not yet. 

I don't know how I managed to find this balance between racing and my personal life, but for the first time in forever, I'm not overwhelmed. I'm actually enjoying it, like I'm no longer at war with myself. The anxiety, the sleepless nights, they're still there, but they don't own me anymore. I feel lighter, like I've let go of a weight that's been holding me down for far too long. And I know Aria has been a huge part of that. 

Every race, every podium, every late night phone call when I'm about to collapse from exhaustion, she's been there. Sometimes, when I'm alone in my hotel room, I think about how different things could've been if she hadn't shown up in Bahrain. If she hadn't been willing to stand by me, even when I almost pushed her away. This last month has made me realize I'm falling for her harder than I thought. Maybe I already have. 

But there's still this small part of me that's scared. I'm scared that racing will pull me away from her, or that she'll get tired of the constant distance and pressures of traveling, the uncertainty, the chaos that comes with being an F1 driver. But every time she smiles at me, every time she tells me she's proud of me, those fears disappear. 

The doorbell rings, taking me out of my own thoughts. Right on time. I smile, knowing exactly who it is. I had invited Aria over for a casual lunch, since I'm home for two weeks during the race break, and any excuse to spend time with her feels like a gift. I open the door, and there she is, looking effortlessly beautiful as always, holding a small box of pastries in her hands. 

"I couldn't resist," she smiles, lifting the box up. "Figured we could use something sweet."

 "Always," I laugh, stepping aside to let her in.