I sat in the dressing room, the walls closing in as I replayed the argument from last night. My heart ached as I remembered her words, how she said she didn’t feel loved like she used to, how I had become cold and distant after 6 years of being together. She wasn't wrong. I had been different lately, and it wasn’t because I didn’t love her, because I love her more than anything else in this world, it was because I was drowning, struggling to keep my head above the relentless waves of this season, and I didn't tell her cause I didn’t want to burden her, especially cause she’s always done the most for me.

“Lewis, I’m not asking for much, just the man I fell in love with.” She said, her voice cracking, her eyes welling up.

“And I’m trying! You think this is easy for me? Balancing everything? I’m doing the best I can!” I shouted back, my frustration boiling over.

“But your best isn’t good enough! I need more than just your physical presence, Lewis. I need you, all of you!” She yelled, tears spilling down her cheeks. She stormed out before I could find the words to make her stay. The guilt was suffocating. How could I have let it get to this point?

The next day, after I crossed the finish line, I didn’t even care about the race anymore. I went back to the box and saw her, standing there, looking as beautiful as ever, but with a pain in her eyes that broke me. I knew what I had to do. I went changing into some casual clothes that weren’t full of sweat. Everyone was there, the mechanics, engineers, Toto, watching curiously as I approached her. I took a deep breath and pulled out the velvet box that had been burning a hole in my pocket for the past months. I grabbed her hand and made her turn to face me. I got down on one knee, not leaving her hand.

“Tell me, where in your heart am I now? Because I love you more than anything in this world, and I just need you to marry me… Please {{user}}.” I said, my whole body was shaking, my voice too. A silent tear on my cheek, waiting for her answer.