Monza (Formula Men)

Chapter 1

Uno

It took nothing more than a mere second—a blink, a heartbeat, a breath—for everything to drastically change, shifting your world inside out and upside down. Then, when all fight had left you, the moment you shut your eyes, you knew nothing would ever be the same again.

That thought occurred to me when my car skidded off the track, heading towards a formidable concrete wall.

Upon the moment of impact, I heard the loud bang of my car smashing against it. Along with the hair-raising sound of metal crunching upon collision, there was the acrid stench of petrol combined with smoke fumes burning into my nostrils.

My senses took it all in, acutely noting each mind-bending change in my surrounding. However, I couldn't feel my body. Using all my might, I couldn't for the life of me move my limbs.

In the far distance, I could hear the sirens heading towards me.

I should have panicked, yet that emotion wasn't present. It was as if my body was not there at all, as if I was disconnected from it.

I probably was, given the speedy rate I had been going.

The sound of people running towards me made me feel somewhat hopeful. Maybe there was something to be done, and it wasn't too late...

"Signore Luca! Per favore, riesci a sentirmi?" (Can you hear me?)

From what I could gather, there was a team of people trying to pry my door open.

His troubling question made me want to respond to him, to simply ask him not to scream so loudly, but that thought immediately escaped me when I suddenly felt weak, thanks to the foul stench of petrol burning my lungs, making it quite impossible to breathe.

Perfetto...

Just as I had wished, I was going to die on the racetrack of Monza.

Amidst the stark darkness came a tiny slither of light. It reminded me of a darkened sky with one glimmering star to embellish the plain gloom of nightfall.

The seconds turned into minutes then hours. From there, I lost track of how long I kept staring at the small tincture of brightness.

I was still and unmoving from my spot. I wasn't sure if I was sitting down, standing up, or simply lying somewhere. I hadn't a clue. It was as if my body was nonexistent, and the only sense that was working was my sight, nothing more.

My eyes were glued to that one shimmering light, my mind a mass of confusion, enthrallment, and this odd feeling that I was awaiting my sentence. It felt like I couldn't proceed until I was given permission. Like I said, it was rather peculiar, yet I knew that was what I must do.

And so I waited in the stillness surrounding me. There was no air, no sound at all, as if there was no life anywhere around me. It was deafening listening to nothing. It made me momentarily think of my ears popping due to pressure when I could only hear myself thinking and speaking, leaving the rest as a dulling nuisance in the background.

Serene calmness engulfed me. Relaxed and undaunted, I gradually shut my eyes, while another part of me thought it important to keep noting the string of light, wondering if it were to leave me in darkness soon. Regardless, the notion of keeping my concentration sharp completely left me as the temptation of shutting my lids conquered.

In that instant, I felt utterly complete, unlike any feeling I had experienced before. Contentment filled me. I felt one with my body, with my mind and every vital and lingering thought that ever crossed my mind. A mere second passed, a gasp of a short breath, before I caught a whiff of something...