Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

Chapter 33~ Who are you?

Alex

"She's alive." The nurse responds and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Can I see her?" I ask immediately, not wanting to waste another second. A part of me feels like I'm being pranked and can't really be relieved unless I see and touch her.

"Yes, but first I suggest you speak to the doctor." The nurse responds and I nod.

"Where is the doctor?" My voice is barely steady, impatient. I don't have time for formalities.

The nurse motions toward a hallway. "Dr. Patel is in his office. Down the hall, third door on the right."

I'm already moving before she finishes speaking. My legs feel heavy, my pulse still hammering, but I push forward.

When I reach it, the door is slightly ajar, so I don't bother knocking. I push it open, stepping inside. The doctor looks up from a file, his eyes widening behind his glasses.

"Mr. King, why are you here personally? Did something happen?" He stands from his seat.

I don't even know the man and he already knows me. Sometimes, I detest being so known.

"Please, sit doctor. I'm here for Athena Dawson."

His eyes widen,

"She was brought in some hours ago. Is she someone you know?"

"Yes. How is she?"

"She's stable," Dr. Patel says, and I exhale sharply. But then he adds, "Physically, she's out of immediate danger. However, she was underwater for a prolonged period. We're monitoring for any complications, including secondary drowning or neurological effects."

Neurological effects.

My stomach twists.

"What does that mean?"

confusion, memory gaps, or difficulty processing certain events. Trauma like this can also trigger long-term psychological effects." He studies me for a moment

Disoriented.

grip the back of a chair, grounding

"What psychological effects?"

the file again before meeting my

about hypoxia-lack of oxygen to the brain-which can sometimes cause memory impairment.

Confusion. Possible difficulty

the incident or even from her past. It's hard to say how severe

"When will that be?"

is a good sign. But trauma like this... it's unpredictable. She could

teeth. "And when she

Patel studies me for a moment before

If she has memory issues, pushing too hard could

I narrow my eyes.

drowning, she may develop PTSD. Claustrophobia, panic

I nod.

studying to be a surgeon, she will be heartbroken when something goes wrong and

severe her condition is. Only you will attend to her, and you can't tell her the Cote truth

"Mr. King-"

When the time is right, I'll tell her if she will still be struggling. For now, let's just

back in his chair, but he understands I'm not asking and if word goes out I won't be

"I understand."

rough from all the emotions I'm

Patel nods.

be gentle with her, Mr.

just turn on my heel and head for her

sight of her nearly brings

the hospital bed, her dark hair damp, strands sticking to her pale skin. An IV is hooked into her arm, the steady beep of the

My chest tightens.

This is my fault.

her. Because I didn't

was wrong.

closer, my fingers curling around