Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

"Mummy! What made you take so long?" Rayen jumps in my arms as I hold back a groan.

I swear periods were enemies sent to kill us but found us stronger, so they settled for torture instead.

Because what the hell am I feeling this kind of pain for?

"We had to check for something, buddy. Come here!" Alex saves me again.

Have you ever felt like asking the ground to open up and swallow you whole? That's exactly how I'm feeling.

I'm so shy, I can't face him. Which is crazy because I'm a doctor. These things shouldn't bother me.

"My camping tent is huge and warm. I'm sharing it with my best friend! Wanna see?" Rayen asks, and I hold back a laugh.

This boy has more energy than I'll ever have.

"Yes, sure. But I didn't know you had a best friend, who is it?" Alex asks.

“Kai Sinclair. He just came to our school and is super fun!" Rayen bounces as we walk to his tent.

The setup is really camp like except that the tents have been made inside the huge hotel with security so tight no one goes around without an ID.

I doubt Alex understands the word camping.

"When you said camping, I thought it's the one everyone goes to. But I should have known nothing is the same with you, I mean, you created an artificial forest!"

I can't help but laugh at how crazy this is.

“I think it's a win-win situation. The kids get to have fun, and we get to keep them safe." He shrugs.

I shake my head but say nothing. At this point, I'm tongue-tied.

We step into the giant ballroom-turned-forest-fantasy, where massive artificial

trees line the walls, and soft green carpeting pretends to be grass.

Fairy lights twinkle from the ceiling like stars, and a few fake animal sounds echo faintly from hidden speakers.

It's extra but kind of adorable.

Rayen races ahead of us, nearly tripping over one of the tree roots made out of foam.

"Careful!" Alex and I speak at the same time.

"There! That's mine!" Rayen says, pointing proudly at a tent with his name

scribbled in glittery letters above it. "And that's Kai's!" He gestures to the one right next to it.

"Rayen!" A little boy calls for him, making us both turn as they run towards each other.

Behind him is Rose.

taken aback, shocked that her son goes here

"Rose?"

as she pulls me into a hug.

know your son goes to the same school at

She laughs,

changed schools.

"Caleb?"

schools. Apparently, being nine means not going to a

I better start

better!" She responds before we both

voice speaks

up, her

at her before turning to face me, "Do you want to sit?" He

fine." I brush him

to leave me the hell

to get any more words out, we hear

an actual ranger outfit, complete with a wide-brimmed hat and a fake

for some classic

up like

and floating paper fish. Another area has a build your own trail mix table with

and hand

hand and drags him toward the activity zone, both of them screaming something about finding a

like they're having fun," Rose

into a

will! I can't believe they made the assistant principal dress up as a

fits of laughter

other parents are

stick tents using popsicle sticks and hot glue guns, and others reluctantly

standing like he owns the forest.

manages to

tiny girl ties a friendship bracelet on his wrist.

at me

I call for a group

corner.

girls. Do you wanna paint someone's

says

all jump up and

grows, "See that

blond hair?

his face painted so badly. But, he's shy so when no, just he say cry and he will know you really

s

girls says happily

him, aren't you?" Rose says

on Alex's face when the girls all

once.

mean it like that...shit!" He looks around when his

as