Dear Ex Wife Please take me back

ATHENA

I don't know how long has passed, but it feels like it's been hours.

The air in the elevator feels like it's closing in around me, suffocating. My breath quickens, and every beat of my heart feels like it's being crushed beneath the weight of the darkness, the pressure growing in my chest with every passing second.

I can feel my pulse in my ears, the pounding relentless. It's like I can't breathe.

The tightness in my throat is almost unbearable, and I instinctively grip the rail in front of me, digging my nails into the cold metal, hoping it will anchor me. But nothing helps. The panic is building inside me, a tidal wave crashing in my chest. Get it together, Athena. You're not that girl anymore. You're alive and kicking!

But no matter how many times I try to tell myself that, the memories keep flooding back.

The panic.

The water.

The helplessness.

It feels like I'm being dragged down, pulled into the depths.

I swallow hard, my hands shaking, my fingers cold against the smooth railing.

The darkness is so thick that I feel like I'm drowning in it. Every breath feels like

it's being taken from me, my lungs constricting, my vision blurring.

I think Alex has said something, but I can't seem to make out the words.

But I'm sure whatever he's said is bullshit.

"Shut up, Alex," I whisper, trying to keep my voice steady, trying to force the tears back. "Just... shut up."

For once, he listens because the silence returns, and the longer I stand there, the tighter the walls seem to close in on me.

I feel like I'm slipping away, like I'm about to lose control and be swallowed by the memories again.

The memories of that damn pool. Of the cold water closing over my head, of being helpless, drowning-

A warm, large hand lands on my shoulder, and the touch sends a shock through

me.

No!

I flinch, a gasp escaping my lips, my breath hitching as I instinctively pull away. But the pressure on my shoulder remains.

I'm frozen.

For a split second, everything blurs, and suddenly, I feel like I'm falling, weightless, into the cold, suffocating water.

The pressure of it pulling me down, the panic clawing at my chest. It's like I can

feel the water filling the elevator, rushing in, drowning me.

I don't know how to stop it.

Tears spring to my eyes, blurring my vision. I can't breathe.

I feel a strangled sob rise in my chest, but I won't let it out.

I can't.

Not here.

Not with him.

Not with Alex.

But the darkness feels like it's pushing against me, and I feel my body start to tremble, my legs weak beneath me.

Then, a voice breaks through the chaos, pulling me back up,

"Athena."

"Don't touch me," I manage to choke out, my voice barely above a whisper. But

even as I say it, my body is betraying me, trembling, shaking from the weight of it

all.

"You're okay. I've got you." He says, but it only makes me angrier.

He's got me?

He's got me just so he can drop me again.

"You walked out on me. I called for you that fight, and you let me drown, Alex. I remember everything." Tears that I've been holding back

find their way out as I hug myself white kneeling in the corner.

He doesn't speak, but he doesn't keep his hands to himself either. He walks over to me and sits down close to me before pulling me onto his laps and hugging me tightly.

"Breathe with me." He whispers.

His embrace is strong and warm, but all I feel is the crushing weight of betrayal.

I'm shaking, my heart hammering in my chest as my mind spirals. I wish I could push him away, tell him to leave me alone, to get his hands off me.

But I don't.

I don't because a part of me,no matter how much I hate it, craves the comfort he's offering.

The way his arms secure me, keeping me grounded, pulling me back from the edge of the abyss where my mind is racing, spinning out of control.

His hand moves to my back, gently rubbing circles as if trying to soothe me.

His voice is low, steady, and calm.

"Breathe with me, Athena. In and out. Focus on me."

I breathe in, shaky and uneven, then out, feeling the tension in my chest loosen.

"Good," Alex says softly.

"I'm sure you're not afraid because you're a cold, cruel man." I blurt out with a sniff.

He chuckles at that.

He freaking chuckles!

"Maybe I am." He responds after a beat.

"I hate you I whisper, not even if he hears me, but the words feelnoveldrama

like they're clawing their wa

mth whisper, not even sure

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spoken.

“The feeling is mutual." He says it so quietly.

"Yet, you're holding me like I'm about to break apart." I mock, feeling better as I try

to break off, but he holds me even tighter.

After a beat of silence, he finally responds.

"Yes I am."

The lights come back on, and I come back to myself.

It's so awkward I'm unable to hold his burning gaze.

"You can come off now." He grunts and I move so fast, one would think my ass was on fire.

Just great!

Alex, doesn't say another word as he stretches his hand towards me. I'm still debating if I should take it or not when the elevator doors open.

I'm still on my ass when Leah comes into view. Her gaze lands from me to Alex and back to me, and she looks like she wants to bite my head off!

She's not alone. Next to her is a beautiful boy who I'm guessing is Rayen if Alex still wishes to torment me.

He looks like his spitting image with only a difference in hair colour.

But that's not what shocks me.

It's when I look up and the boy runs towards me with a huge smile on his face screaming,

"Mummy!"