Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

Chapter 85 ~ The feeling is mutual!

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!

breath hitching as I instinctively pull away. But

I'm frozen.

I feel

of it pulling me down, the panic clawing at my

filling the

how to stop

eyes, blurring my vision. I can't

rise in my chest,

I can't.

Not here.

Not with him.

Not with Alex.

me, and I feel my body start to

breaks through the

"Athena."

manage to choke out, my voice barely above

my body is betraying me, trembling, shaking from the weight

all.

you." He says, but it only

He's got me?

just so he can drop

and you let me drown, Alex. I remember everything." Tears that

way out as I hug myself

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

me."

warm, but all I feel is the

shaking, my heart hammering in my chest as my mind spirals. I wish I could push him

But I don't.

matter how much I

the edge of the abyss where

rubbing circles as if trying to soothe

is low, steady, and

me, Athena. In and

out, feeling

"Good," Alex says softly.

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

He chuckles at that.

He freaking chuckles!