Dear Ex Wife, Please take me back novel Chapter 85

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.

“Maybe I am.” He responds after a beat.

“I hate you,” I whisper, not even sure if he hears me, but the words feel like they’re clawing their way out of my throat, desperate to be 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!”