On and Off the Track

S E V E N T Y S E V EN.

By the time I got home later that evening, I felt more at peace. I made myself dinner, put on some music, and curled up on the couch with a book. Just as I was getting comfortable, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Charles.
"Just landed in Singapore. Miss you already. Hope you're having a good day!" A warmth spread through me as I read his words. I quickly typed back,
"I miss you too! Had coffee with Mila, and it helped. Can't wait to hear all about your race weekend!" The rest of the evening passed slowly, but I found comfort in the rhythm of my routine. I reminded myself that we'd get through this month apart, just like we'd navigated everything else together.

The next few days passed in a blur of activity for me. I threw myself into work, taking on various projects to keep my mind occupied. Early mornings turned into late nights, and I found comfort in the routine. Still, the nights were the hardest. I missed his laughter, the way he'd casually wrap his arms around me, and just the comfort of having him nearby. But I channelled that energy into my creative pursuits, letting the busyness drown out the loneliness. On the fourth day after Charles left for Singapore, I was unpacking boxes in our new apartment, trying to make it feel like home. The space still felt a bit empty without him, but I was determined to get everything set up by the time he came back. I'd spent the entire morning organising the kitchen and deciding where to put the last of our things, when suddenly, my phone buzzed with a surprise video call from him. I put down the box in my hand and answered, my heart skipping a beat when his face appeared on the screen. His familiar smile made my chest tighten with a mixture of happiness and longing.
"Hey there, gorgeous," he greeted, leaning back in a chair, his hair slightly messy from the day. "How's Monaco treating you?" I couldn't help but grin, feeling a rush of warmth at the sight of him.
"Busy as usual! I've been working on a few projects and... unpacking our place." I glanced around at the half-empty living room, boxes still scattered around. "Trying to get everything sorted before you come home." His eyes softened.
"I can't wait to see it all. I know you're making it perfect."
"Trying to," I laughed. "It's weird, though, doing it without you. It's our first place together, and you're not even here to argue with me about where the furniture goes." Charles chuckled.
"I trust your judgement. Besides, I'm sure it'll look amazing. You always know how to make things feel like home." I smiled at that, my heart lifting a little.
"How's Singapore?"
"Hot and humid," he replied with a grin. "But the energy here is insane. The fans, the city... it's a different vibe. I can't wait for the race, it's going to be intense."
"I bet. I wish I could be there," I said, feeling a pang of longing. Seeing him there, in that world, made me miss him even more.
"I wish you were too," he said softly, his expression turning serious. "It's weird being here without you. You make everything more fun." We talked for a while, sharing little stories about our days. I told him about the apartment and how I'd spent half the day organising the kitchen only to realise I'd put the plates in the wrong cupboard and had to start over. He laughed, telling me about the humidity and the crazy schedule leading up to the race. For a moment, it almost felt normal, like he wasn't halfway across the world. But when we hung up, the apartment felt even quieter than before.

As the days turned into a week, I kept busy. I finished unpacking and organising the apartment, making sure everything was perfect for when Charles came back. Still, I found myself scrolling through social media more often than I should have, catching glimpses of Charles during his race preparations. Every post, every story, every video made my heart swell with pride, but it also reminded me of how much I missed him. Even though I'd filled our place with all the things we loved, it didn't quite feel like home without him. But as I curled up on the couch that evening, surrounded by the newness of our life together, I reminded myself that this was just a temporary phase. Soon, he'd be back, and we'd fill the apartment with our shared moments and laughter.

The following week, as race day approached, I found myself preparing for my own big event, a charity gala in Monaco. While I was excited, there was this twinge of sadness knowing Charles wouldn't be there by my side. I had gotten used to sharing these moments with him, and it felt strange to do it alone.