The Useless Apology:

“I’m sorry.”

She repeated the apology with sincerity etched on her face. Wordlessly she picked up her bag and turned to leave. The guilt that had been plaguing her for a while disappeared. We’re all good now, she thought as she walked. She felt light, and happy. The apology had set her free. She could move on now.

His eyes followed her as she walked off happily. As she disappeared around the corner, a shadow fell across his face.

How many years of pain inflicted and wounds created. How many days of hurt given. And in a moment’s notice, a simple apology from her end and she was free. She was fine. She could move on and live her life.

What about the person left behind?

What about the person who’s trust was shattered? What about the person struggling to forgive? What about the person who has to deal with the toxic memories that resurfaces every once in a while?

Is this the end? Is this justice?

He snorted with grim amusement.

How simple to utter a word of apology and turn your back on what you have wrecked for so long.

How useless the apology that was not uttered at the appropriate time but years after the offence was committed.

How naive the mind that thinks everything is over with the sorry. How naive to believe that you are at peace with yourself without resolving to make amends, without mending the heart that you broke, without putting effort into making whole once more the person who is now afraid to trust.

Was the apology to cure your own guilty conscience or was it sincere understanding of what you did wrong? And does it end with understanding? Do you have no responsibility to attempt to restore what you took away?

It doesn't end with an apology. It never will.