Untitled chapter 1
1
ATHENA
Pain enveloped me, the water around me failing to wash away the weight of my despair. I felt used, dirty, and utterly broken.
How could he do this to me? After all the work I’ve done to get better, I’m back at square one.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I hugged myself tightly. I hadn’t cried since I was thirteen, but now reality crashed in like an unrelenting wave. Regret, sorrow, and anguish collided within me, each emotion striking with the force of a freight train, leaving me gasping for breath.
Just as darkness threatened to pull me under, warm fingers gripped my arm.
“Athena, can you hear me? Breathe, okay? Athena!” My sister Selene’s frantic voice broke through the haze.
I blinked open my eyes to find her hovering over me, panic etched across her features. “Thena! Oh my God, you scared me,” she sighed, relief mingling with exasperation. “What on earth are you doing? Are you having a panic attack again?”
“Of course not!” I retorted defensively, anger flaring at the thought of how he had pushed me to this brink, how he had tossed me aside without a second glance.
“Thena, please. You need to get it together. We need you to be okay; the family depends on you. You know this. He’s not coming back for you, and you have to accept that. I hate seeing you like this.”
Her words struck deep. She was right; she always was. If I wanted to lead the family, I needed to pull myself together. I couldn’t let him destroy me too.
“Okay, Sel, I hear you,” I said, my voice softer.
“You better mean it,” she replied firmly. “Now drink this.” She handed me a cup of water along with a pill. I wiped my tear-stained face and stepped out of the bathtub, wrapping a towel around myself.
Suddenly, nausea surged within me. I rushed to the toilet as Selene held back my hair while I retched, expelling everything I had eaten—though it hadn’t been much. Heartbreak could wreak havoc on the body.
“Oh no,” she gasped, her voice laced with concern.
“What? No! Absolutely not!” I retorted as another wave of nausea hit.
“Whatever you say, Thena. But I really think you should take a test just in case. If it’s negative, we can move on properly.”
“Fine! I’ll take the test,” I sighed, pushing myself up to brush my teeth.
Staring into the mirror, I barely recognized the girl looking back at me—the broken reflection with dark circles under her eyes and chapped lips reminded me of a time I had fought desperately to forget.
I missed the strong Athena—the one who wouldn’t let him destroy her; the one who had survived hell and fought for her sister with every ounce of strength she possessed.
At least this reflection wasn’t laughing at me like the world seemed to be.
“Thank you, Selene. I don’t know what I would do without you,” I said softly.
“You’d probably be lost in a ditch somewhere,” she replied with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood. “But seriously, get some rest; we have an appointment tomorrow.” She pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.
“Have you heard anything from him?” I asked hesitantly.
“I don’t want to talk about him,” she said sharply. “He doesn’t deserve space in your mind right now. Focus on getting better.”
Deep down, I knew she still cared for him despite his betrayal. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you, sis.” I wrapped her in a tight embrace.
“Love you too, Thena. Remember, call me if you need anything. Goodnight.” With that, she closed the door behind her.
I walked to my bed and collapsed into a deep sleep, grateful for the escape after such a tumultuous day—and week.
