Formula 1 One-Shots (II)

Lando Norris [Overarchiver]

A/N Wished by annaxyv. 

WORDS: 1103

PROMPT: "Sit down, you are looking very pale."
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The air outside is biting, the kind of cold that gnaws on the skin and slowly finds its way into the bones. Snowflakes drift lazily through the air, contributing to the look of a winter wonderland in the city. Christmas lights twinkle everywhere, and the smell of roasted chestnuts mixes with the faint scent of pine trees that have been placed all over the city.
It should have been perfect.

But it isn't.

I clutch onto my shopping bags, ignoring the dizzy feeling inside my head. My stomach clenches, and my legs feel like they will buckle under my weight any second. I have been walking around for hours, making my way through the crowds of other shoppers while trying to check off everything on my list. This was supposed to be my perfect Christmas. The one where I finally managed to do everything the right way.

I have bought all the gifts, picked out the perfect decorations, and even found aesthetically matching wrapping paper. But right now, I'm not even sure I will make it back home.

Pausing for a moment, I lean against the big glass window of a store, trying to take deep breaths through my mouth and exhaling through my nose. My vision sways, lights and dots dancing around, and I can no longer identify which of them are Christmas lights and which ones are in my head. Pressure rises behind my temples, and I sigh. Maybe I have overdone it today. I've barely slept the past few nights, juggling the last days of work, holidays, and everything else that needed to be done. The urge to finish my lists without knowing how to stop is overwhelming.

I blink when I hear my name being called. Looking around, the voice is so familiar that I turn to spot Lando coming closer. He's one of my old childhood friends—not as close as others, but still decent enough to be considered a friend.

"Lando?" I ask back just to make sure my mind isn't playing tricks on me. My voice is soft, and I don't like how weak it sounds. I didn't expect to see Lando today, not in the middle of this chaotic crowd, which he probably should avoid, considering how popular he is.

He comes to a halt in front of me, brows furrowing in concern as his eyes scan my face. "You don't look so good. Are you okay?"

I force a smile on my lips, but it feels weak. "I'm fine," I say, even though I don't believe it myself. My head feels heavy, and my legs don't hold me up as well as they should.

I press my hand to my forehead, feeling the heat radiating from it. "Maybe I overdid it a bit with the shopping," I admit and try to shrug it off, convincing myself I just look a bit overheated from the crowds. I know that's not the reason, but I still try to believe it's fine.

Lando's frown deepens, and before I can even react, he gently guides me to a bench nearby. "Sit down," he mumbles. "You're looking very pale."

I sit down, grateful for Lando's support because the dizziness is making it hard to stand up straight. Even though I want to protest, I let him have his way, hoping a minute or two of rest will make things better.

Lando sits beside me with a sigh, his expression gentle. "What's going on? You look like you've done the work of at least three people at once."

A nice way to say I look more than exhausted. "It's nothing," I mutter, not meeting his eyes. "Just... Christmas stuff. You know how it is, trying to make everything perfect."

Lando shakes his head, his voice kind but firm. "You're not okay. You're pushing yourself too much. It's just a holiday. You don't have to make everything perfect."

I let out a shaky breath, finally looking up to meet his eyes. "I know, but it feels like if I don't get everything right this year, I'll be letting everyone down." I glance around, watching the crowd, their cheerful chatter, making me feel even more miserable. "I just wanted to do the same as everyone else. To be able to enjoy the season perfectly, you know?"

Lando's eyes soften. "You're allowed to take a break. Christmas isn't about getting everything perfect. It's about being with the people you care about, not stressing over gifts and decorations."

I swallow hard, the words stuck in my throat. Maybe he's right; maybe I was so focused on making everything perfect that I forgot what really mattered. He leans forward, looking at me with concern. "You don't have to do this alone; you know. The people who care about you could help you."

I bite down on my lip, feeling a lump rise in my throat. It's been so long since someone reassured me to turn the effort down. I'm so used to doing everything on my own, trying to carry the weight of everyone's expectations, especially my mom's. But right now, everything feels like too much. Finally, I realize how much I've been pretending to manage everything, even though I wasn't fine.

"You don't have to make everything perfect," Lando repeats, his voice quiet but certain. "And you definitely don't have to do this alone, either."

I close my eyes, trying to steady myself. The tears I didn't even realize were forming start to roll down my cheeks. I let them, not caring anymore because I'm exhausted. The thought of carrying all this responsibility on my shoulders feels unbearable.

Lando doesn't say anything, just sits beside me, offering a comforting silence. His presence is enough. He doesn't expect anything from me and doesn't ask for anything in return. After a few minutes, I wipe my eyes and take a deep breath. "I guess I was running on low battery. I just didn't realize how empty I was already."

"Hey, it's okay," Lando says softly, his hand resting on my shoulder. "Let me get you home, and then you can take it easy, yeah?"

I nod, finally allowing myself to relax, knowing Lando is right. Together, we stand up. Lando helps me gather my bags, then steadies me as we walk to his car. The crowds around us blur, and the noise fades into the background. For the first time in days, I feel like I can finally breathe.

Maybe Lando is right: Christmas isn't about getting everything perfect. Maybe it's about letting go of that picture-perfect scenario in your head and finally enjoy what comes.