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.

that her son goes

"Rose?"

me into a hug. "It's great

son goes

She laughs,

recently changed schools.

"Caleb?"

to play soccer and insists on changing schools. Apparently, being nine means not going to a school

I better start

better!" She responds before

A deep voice speaks from

her

nods at her before turning to face me, "Do you

fine." I brush him

leave me the

more words out, we

actual ranger outfit, complete with

some classic campsite

like a Christmas

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

hand them scavenger hunt cards decorated with little

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

having fun,"

laugh, watching Rayen pile leave into a

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

into fits of laughter as we look

parents are

stick tents using popsicle sticks and hot glue guns, and others reluctantly trying to light pretend

Alex, standing like

manages to

girl ties a friendship

at me and mouths "Help

call for

corner.

paint someone's face?" I ask with a

says no to

all jump

"See that man

hair?

shy so when no, just he say cry and he will know you really want to paint

s

That's so fun!" One of the girls says happily and rushes to pick

aren't you?" Rose says by my

Alex's face when the girls

once.

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

as I respond