Eyes Don't Lie | Charles Leclerc

Part 47 | How To Save A Life

June 29, 2023

The moment the checkered flag waved, I felt a rush of fierce determination. My race had been far from perfect, every corner, every straight, my thoughts kept drifting to Aria. But somehow, in that final stint, I found a way to channel that energy. With each lap, I pushed harder, ignoring the tires burning, my team warning me over the radio. I drove with everything I had, almost too recklessly. And when I crossed the line in P2, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

Part of that satisfaction came from seeing Max's name with DNF  next to it. A boost in the points for me was welcome, but it was more than that, it was a reminder that there was still something to fight for. That this season, wasn't over yet.

After the podium ceremony, I rushed through everything I had to do. Quick words with my team, the required photos and a much needed shower. I could hardly focus, my mind already on what came next. The moment I wrapped up the mandatory things I had to do, I made a beeline to the paddock exit, where Carlos and Pierre met me, their faces serious but supportive.

"Go get her, mate," Carlos said, clapping me on the back. Pierre gave me a nod of support, and I felt a nothing but gratitude for the two of them.

I squeezed their shoulders in thanks before jumping into the car that would take me straight to the airport. My assistant had already confirmed my flight back to Monaco. As I sat in the backseat, the rush of the day started to wear off, and anxiety clawed its way back in. But I forced myself to focus on my goal.

This wasn't just about winning a race anymore. It was about winning back the person I cared about more than anything. And I was determined to see it through, no matter what awaited me in Monaco.

As the plane took off into the night sky, my thoughts became as dark as the night outside. I couldn't sit still, shifting uncomfortably in my seat, my mind a storm of emotions. The darkness tried to creep in, whispering doubts into my ear. It taunted me with cruel thoughts, telling me that Aria didn't want to be with me, that she had meant every word she said in London, that I was only setting myself up for more heartbreak, that none of this was worth it.

I ran a hand through my hair in frustration, trying to push those thoughts away. I knew her better than that. The Aria I saw that day wasn't the Aria I had come to know, the one I loved. She wasn't the one who believed in me when I had nothing left to believe in, who flew to Bahrain to pull me out of the darkness when I was at my lowest. There was something else at play, something I didn't fully understand yet, but I couldn't ignore the feeling deep in my chest that screamed this wasn't her choice.

I took a shaky breath, staring out into the endless night through the small window, trying to focus on the truth I felt in my gut. Aria was my other half, my soulmate. She was the one who understood me like no one else ever had, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were meant to be, that we were end game. It might sound crazy, to believe in something like fate, but I had to hold onto it. Because the alternative, the thought of giving up on her, on us, was something I refused to accept.

My fingers dug into the armrest, knuckles white with tension, as I silently promised myself that I wouldn't surrender to the darkness this time. I wouldn't let it win. Whatever was waiting for me in Monaco, I would face it head on. For her. For us.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 

The moment I stepped out of the airport in Nice, I wasted no time. I grabbed a cab and sent the driver straight to Aria's apartment in Monaco, my heart racing with every passing second. As the city blurred by, I rehearsed what I might say to her, trying to piece together my scattered thoughts. But no matter how many times I ran through it, I knew none of it could capture what I truly felt. All I knew was that I needed to see her, to hold her, to understand why she'd pushed me away when everything between us had felt so real.