Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

"Mummy you just have to come with Daddy. My friends will laugh at me!" Rayen holds onto my hand as he pouts.

I sigh as I lift him in my arms and shower his cute face with kisses.

"Baby, Daddy will be busy." I lie.

But he shakes his head.

"No he won't. Daddy is never too busy for me. He comes to every school event. But can't you join him this year?"

His eyes widen as he cups my cheeks in his tiny hands. "Please, Mummy? Just this once?"

I hug him tighter, burying my face in his soft curls to hide the guilt clawing at my chest.

If only he understood how complicated things really were between me and Alex.

But how do I explain that to a three-year-old who still sees the world in black and white?

"Sweetheart," I whisper, brushing his hair back. "Mummy just... can't."

His face falls. The pout returns, deeper this time, but it's the sadness in his eyes that does me in.

"You don't love Daddy anymore? Is that why you won't let us stay together?" he asks quietly.

My heart stops.

I force a smile, even as my vision blurs for a second. "No that's not it."

"I wish I could show my friends I have a mummy. They laugh at me, saying, Aunt Leah is my Mummy, and she's in prison."

A sharp pain shoots through my chest as anger seethes through me.

I stroke his hair, my arms tightening around him instinctively.

"Who told you that?”

it. He said kids without real mummies are not allowed to come on the camping trip. And I want to go. He said his mummy told

it hurts. Blood roars

of mother teaches her

my son for something he doesn't

in my throat like bile. Not just at Liam's

For letting this happen.

all it did was make

Rayen's forehead, holding him as if I could shield him from every cruel word the world might throw

"Baby, look at me."

back slightly, his eyes red and his bottom lip

with you, okay?" I say softly, but firmly. "You're not going to that trip without

with hope, so pure

them the truth, that your mummy is a doctor, not a prisoner. And if that doesn't shut them

and I

at me, his green eyes holding mine, "Don't worry, mummy, I didn't let them see me cry. I'm pretty strong like

I laugh.

you are. Now come on, strong guy, come help me in

really don't like the kitchen!" He complains, making me halt with my

on your own if I

He almost burnt the kitchen

hold back

it's short-lived because the memories from last week come rushing back like

I can't

me during

way his

me when Couldn't breathe, when

and my

felt like it was caving

held me like I

in that moment, for a heartbeat, I forgot

I forgot the pain.

The betrayal.

The lies.

how he