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?”

mummies are not allowed to come on the camping trip. And I want to go. He said his mummy told him my mummy was in prison. When I said

jaw clenches so tight it hurts. Blood roars in my

her child to say something

another child, to mock my son for something he

like bile. Not just at Liam's mother but

For letting this happen.

not being there sooner. For thinking distance was the answer when all it did was make him feel alone. I kept my distance

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

"Baby, look at me."

slightly, his eyes red and

I say softly, but firmly. "You're not going to that

His eyes widen with hope, so pure and

nod. "Yes, sweetheart. And if anyone says something mean again, you tell them the truth, that your mummy is a

through his sniffles, and I smile

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

like the kitchen!" He complains, making me halt with my arms

your own if I

time. But Daddy doesn't. He almost burnt the kitchen when he tried to make. me an egg why

back

memories from

can't

way Alex found me during

way his arms

hesitation, grounding me when Couldn't

blurred and my

like it

held me like

moment, for a

I forgot the pain.

The betrayal.

The lies.

forgot how he