Unapologetic (Malaina White

Unapologetic (Malaina White - New Iberia, LA)

i’m sorry, i tell him

when he has a bad day at work

why are you apologizing, he asks

it’s not your fault it was a bad day

a lesson he has taught me

in our time together

you only need apologize

when you’ve done something

that renders it necessary

the people who have hurt me

have done so unapologetically

left me emotionally trampled

momentarily crippled

then carried on with their day

as though the interaction

was just another transaction

like stiffing the waitstaff

or thrusting in the shank

i didn’t let it defeat me

my love and trust in others

undiminished

my compassion left intact

it only reinforced my drive

to thrive

we are walking on the path

through the woods

behind our home

in silence

the weight of the last few years

like a huge bird perched

on my shoulders

without any prompting

he says

i know you’ve lost a lot

without any benefits…

he doesn’t finish the thought

just trails off

as i break into soft tears

it’s an apology

from someone who has done nothing

to render it necessary

an apology to me

he is apologizing to me

for everyone who never did

we grab each other’s hands

and continue walking

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