Forever and Always | Max Verstappen *ੈ✩‧₊˚

Who are you right now?

Present day
Max

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music : "changes" by XXXTENTACION

I woke up in the guest bedroom. It was nice, cozy even but it wasn't my bed. It wasn't our bed.

I missed Emma. I missed my wife. I missed the way she'd curl up next to me, her soft breathing the first thing I heard in the morning. I missed her laugh God, that laugh. It could light up a room, make even the worst day bearable.

But I hadn't heard it in what felt like forever.

I had no idea how long this was all going to last.

I mean, technically, we were married.

But every night, I'd walk into the guest room and sleep in a bed that wasn't mine, in a room that didn't feel like home.

She was just down the hall, but it felt like she was a thousand miles away.

We barely even looked at each other these days, let alone talked.

And when we did, it was like we were tiptoeing around something fragile, like if we spoke too loudly or too honestly, everything would just shatter.

And the worst part? I couldn't even say anything.

I couldn't tell her how much it was killing me, how every day I felt a little more hopeless.

Because how could I? After everything she'd been through, after everything she'd forgotten... how could I make this about me?

So, I stayed quiet.

I kept sleeping in the guest room. I kept watching her walk around this apartment like a ghost, and every time she passed me by without looking, it felt like losing her all over again.

Shaking my head, I pushed myself out of bed, hoping she'd be in the kitchen or maybe curled up on the couch. But when I walked out, the apartment was empty.

Too quiet.

And that's when I saw it. Right there. On the kitchen counter.

Her phone.

Instant panic hit me.

Emma didn't know Monaco. And without her phone? No way to call for help, no GPS... God, what if she got lost?

I grabbed the phone, staring at it like it would somehow give me answers.

She wouldn't just leave without it, would she?

My heart pounded as I quickly reached for mine and dialed Kika's number.

"Hey, Max. What's up?" she answered.

I tried to keep my voice steady. No point in freaking everyone out.

"Hey, Kika. Have you seen Emma today? She, uh... left the apartment, and I was just wondering if you two made plans or something?"

Kika paused. "No, I haven't heard from her. Why? Everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, it's fine. I was just... I don't know, she left her phone here, so I wasn't sure if maybe you knew where she went."

"No idea. Maybe she's just exploring? She'll be fine, Max. I'm sure she's just out getting some air."

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "Yeah, you're probably right. Just... let me know if you hear from her, okay?"

"Will do. Don't worry," Kika reassured me before hanging up.

I tried Andrew next, but kept it just as casual.