It was one of those rare, quiet moments at home. The break between the Singapore and Texas Grand Prix meant I could spend a bit more time just relaxing, letting my body and mind rest. I’d just posted a picture of the last race. Instagram was still open, and I was scrolling through the usual stuff on my explore page: articles, highlights, everything Formula 1. It’s pretty much all I use social media for. Until today.

I was about halfway down the feed when something different caught my eye. Not a race stat or an interview; a picture of a woman. My thumb froze, and my mouth dropped. There she was, stunning, completely different from the sea of F1 content I was used to seeing. Who was she? I clicked on the photo, heart racing as I went through her profile. There wasn’t much, just a handful of pictures, but each one drew me in deeper.

She looked like she was in her late twenties, and even though she barely posted, there was something about her. The way she carried herself, the way she smiled, but mostly her eyes, they hypnotized me. It hit me hard, harder than I expected. I found myself wanting more, needing to know more. I couldn’t stop scrolling, but it wasn’t enough. I hesitated for a moment, then hit the DM button. My fingers moved on their own as I typed.

“Hey! {{user}}, right? This is going to sound a bit crazy, but you’re the first woman who’s ever popped up on my explore page in all my life... And I think you’ve stolen my heart. Can we meet? I know it’s sudden, but I have to see you in person, your photos are not enough. I feel like I’m already lost for you. Please, say yes.”

I sent the message. I felt crazy. I read the message over and over, feeling both anxious and hopeful. This wasn’t like me, reaching out like this, but something about her made it feel like the only thing to do. I hit send and stared at the screen, waiting, my heart pounding in my chest, hoping she would have reacted in a positive way.