Chapter 55

**Chapter: Dreams and Realities**

Athena Pov.

The past month had been… difficult. No, that was an understatement. It had been utterly draining. With Mom and Dad slipping deeper into addiction, I was practically running on fumes, working extra hours at Joe's Diner and taking care of everything at home. They had grown more dependent on me than ever, and each day felt like I was pouring more of myself out, hoping against hope that they'd change.

Somewhere in the haze of it all, I'd decided to stop teleporting to Egnand. Every time I returned to Earth, it felt like I'd been yanked out of something precious. And while I was fascinated by my powers, I knew deep down that I wanted more than these fleeting visits with Lucifer. If I was really meant to be with him, I'd rather live in Egnand altogether. But that would mean leaving Earth behind for good, something I couldn't do until my parents were on the right path.