"If you don't enjoy it here, then please leave, because you're just making it harder for everyone who sees you."

~•~

The weekend was a success. The pair ended up spending Sunday at Daniel's watching the movie 21 Jump Street and simply getting to know each other. It was more about Alira getting to know Daniel. She asked him questions about his life as a professional Formula One driver. He answered with a smile, making her feel comfortable despite not answering many questions herself. Daniel seemed to understand this after a while, and when he asked something, it was directed at Tar, who spent the entire evening lounging next to Daniel, not even glancing at Alira.

Grace was surprised when Alira came to tell her about it at the vet clinic on Monday morning. Alira had, of course, texted her on Saturday that Daniel was doing fine and even sent a selfie of them together, but Grace hadn't known that Alira went back on Sunday.

She didn't mention that she had cooked some food for Daniel to make sure he wasn't starving because she didn't want to make Grace feel bad as a mother. Alira couldn't imagine how a mother would feel knowing that her adult son lived nearby, but she knew nothing about his life - because that's how it seemed to Alira.

Grace thought her son was deeply depressed because he could no longer race. Yes, it bothered him. He blamed himself and probably still cried at night. He was jealous of all the drivers who could still race - he envied Liam Lawson, who debuted in F1 because Daniel was taken out by Hamilton. He definitely wanted to come back, and if not for the doctors, he would have done it immediately, pain or no pain. He probably had mild depression because he couldn't do something he had grown up with and wanted to do for as long as he could. Now, due to his own mistake, he had to work somewhere he didn't want to be.

On the other hand, Daniel started to realize many things. Liam had taken the spot that belonged to him, but when Daniel watched him during the Japanese race, he realized that the kid deserved that spot. Liam was incredible and had finished in the points in every race so far - he was a talent who, due to someone else's misfortune, got to show the world that he deserved a place in F1 a long time ago. It warmed Daniel's heart that Liam could shine, even if it meant that he himself might never shine again. At least not like others in this motorsport.

He also realized that he was getting older and no longer in the same shape as before. In the end, the haters might have been right, and he was just holding a spot that someone from F2 could have taken. Someone very talented, who could be the next Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen.

The more Daniel thought about it and talked about it with Alira, the more he realized that the accident might have had a purpose. The more he thought and talked about it, the more he understood that it wasn't as terrible as he initially thought. It was still awful because he couldn't do something that fulfilled him and made him happy. It was awful because his mind couldn't even accept working for some YouTube channel as a host to attend races - he needed to avoid it for a while. But all of that could be overcome in a few weeks, and everything would be okay again. He wouldn't have Formula One, but he would probably find something else that made him happy - he just didn't know what that would be or how long it would take to find it.

"I can't believe what you're telling me," Grace said as she sat down on the chair in her office. Alira had come to the vet clinic early in the morning to tell Daniel's mother everything that had happened over the weekend, plus she wanted to ask more about Tim, who was already back among his friends.

"Daniel was smiling all weekend," Alira repeated. "I was even surprised because at first, he was kicking me out, but he quickly let me in."

"He was really smiling? He didn't look sad? He was actually laughing and showing his teeth?" Grace kept asking. The girl had to laugh because Grace seemed comical to her. She was so thrilled that her son hadn't been in deep depression all weekend and was enjoying life.

"He was laughing and even playing with Tar," Alira added. "That dog likes him more than me now. Traitor."

"I still can't believe it," Grace wiped away the tears streaming down her face. Some might think her reaction was over the top—why was she crying? But these were tears of happiness; she wasn't sad at all. She was elated that her son wasn't sinking into depression. Hearing this brought her relief, knowing she didn't have to worry as much. Until now, she went to bed every night fearing she might never hug Daniel again or tell him she loved him. Knowing he was happy and smiling eased her fears because she knew he wouldn't fall into that dark place and do something he might regret.

Alira might not have been a mother and didn't know if she would ever be one, but she understood this reaction. She herself would be happy to learn that a friend who had gone through something terrible was happy again. She wouldn't want to lose a friend, and she knew Grace's situation was twice as dreadful because Grace risked losing a son she loved so much.

But Daniel was fine. Perhaps even more than fine. While the two women sat in Grace's office, Daniel was helping with the birds—or rather, watching and claiming he was learning. He didn't smile or show any emotion other than disgust and boredom, but deep down, he was overjoyed.

Just that morning, he was practically jumping for joy, even though it wasn't good for his leg and hurt like hell.

Why?

Max Verstappen had called Daniel, saying he'd love for him to come to Melbourne when they had a race there in two weeks. Everyone wanted to see him and catch up like old times. They hadn't had time to see each other or even text much, as everyone was focused on their own things.

Daniel accepted without hesitation because he realized over the weekend how much he missed Formula One and wanted to see everyone again. He didn't know if something might shift within him and make him leave because it was still too soon, but he wanted to try. He wanted to be there and see the Formula One cars in action because it was his life. Plus, he wanted to see Liam and tell him he was rooting for him and hoped he'd keep showing his talent until the end of the season, just as he was doing now.

But before ending the call with Max, he made a small request. Alira had been so kind to him all weekend and even brought him some delicious food, so he asked for a ticket for her as well. Nothing was promised, but Max said he'd try.

Max would try to get a pass for Alira. That was enough to make Daniel happy.

~•~

"Why was I assigned this animal?" Daniel asked, though it was more rhetorical. He didn't actually expect an answer. The tone of his voice indicated he was just mumbling to himself. Nevertheless, Alira heard him and it didn't make her happy.

Daniel didn't understand echidnas. They were peculiar creatures that certainly didn't bring him joy. Birds, owls, sea lions, lemurs—all those animals were at least somewhat interesting, and Daniel recognized that working with them wasn't the worst job. He even quite enjoyed the sea lions, probably because they let him get in the water with them and experience what it's like to be a real sea lion keeper. He couldn't actually take care of the sea lions because their keeper capacity was full—so he didn't understand why he had to take care of them for two days, but he accepted the work and just did it.

But echidnas? They looked like a cross between a platypus and a hedgehog, and Daniel didn't want to be around them. They didn't scare him—they were small animals, after all. It just didn't seem like he could connect with them. Ordinary creatures he never needed to see in his life.

"This animal?" Alira, who had heard Daniel, looked at him. "These animals?" she repeated.

Daniel looked at her, confused. He didn't know what he had done wrong. Until now, they had been working in silence, and it suited them. Both constantly muttered to themselves and the other didn't react, so he didn't understand why Alira suddenly had to make a big deal out of it.

"These animals have names," Alira told him, her face taking on a very serious expression. It was the kind of look you see on teachers when a student can't answer a question about a topic they're hearing for the first time. The teacher doesn't understand how you can't know the answer but doesn't realize they've been teaching the subject for years. Alira was the same—she had been taking care of these animals for years, while Daniel had only been there for two weeks.

"I don't care what they're called," Daniel shrugged. He knew their names, but he didn't see it as his duty to tell Alira what she already knew. "But I don't like them."

"That's why you're standing in the corner not working?" Alira asked him.

"I don't see the point in taking care of them when I know I won't stay here," Daniel argued. That made Alira angry, not just because echidnas were her favorite animals, but also because of what Daniel had just said.

"I'm in charge of lemurs and sometimes capybaras," Alira looked him in the eye. "Do you see me standing in the corner not working? Echidnas aren't my responsibility, but what am I doing? Tell me, Daniel, what am I doing right now?"

"You're taking care of the echidnas," Daniel answered, but he didn't meet her eyes.

"And which animals are my responsibility?" she asked him.

"Lemurs and capybaras," he replied.

"Wrong," Alira told him. "Lemurs and capybaras are the animals I'm assigned to as a keeper. My responsibility is all the animals because sometimes a keeper can't be here, and then what? Should we let the animals starve and live in filth just because no one else has them as their job?"

"When you put it that way, it sounds bad," Daniel objected. "What I meant to say is that I'm willing to take care of them, but right now, while we're figuring out which animal I'll be assigned to, it seems pointless to take care of one I know I won't end up with."

"It's not just about the echidnas, Daniel," Alira stepped closer to the brunette. "It's about your overall attitude towards working at the zoo."

"I don't think I understand," Daniel replied. He really didn't understand the girl, as they had been talking about echidnas until now. "What do echidnas have to do with my work?"

"Everything, Daniel, everything," Alira shook her head. "You don't enjoy being here, and I understand that. We all understand and we're giving you space to get acclimated and decide if this is really what you want to do. You still have the chance to quit this job and go back to Formula One as a commentator or something similar. We're not holding you here. We're not holding a knife to your throat and threatening to kill your entire family if you don't work here."

Daniel took a breath to say something, but Alira didn't let him.

"If you don't enjoy it here, then please leave, because you're just making it harder for everyone who sees you. And that's not even mentioning the visitors who have to look at you," she told him. "I can see that you don't love animals as much as the others. And that's completely fine. Not everyone has to love animals, but in that case, I don't understand why you work at the zoo if you don't like all the animals and don't do anything for them."

With these words, she turned and started walking towards the exit of the enclosure. She couldn't stay here. She couldn't stay somewhere where Daniel Ricciardo was present.

"I'll discuss it with Webb," the girl stopped at the door. "Take the rest of the day off and try to think about what I've just told you. I'm asking you sincerely, Daniel."

~•~