Sorry’s Unwritten Promise

Her body lay limp on the ground surrounded by broken china plates, books, and toppled furniture, covered in blood and bruises. Her head was turned from the only other person in the broken room. He laid next to her, praying, asking yet again for forgiveness. Head in her hand, tears hot on his cheeks, anger, sadness, and guilt beating his brain. He’d hurt her before. Thrown stuff, screamed names, threw punches and kicks, broken her mind, heart, and body. Now she was fading. He hadn’t meant for this. He loved her. Didn’t he? She loved him. Even though he broke her.

“I don’t know why I loved you.” She whispered through swollen lips below a broken nose and black eye, “You hurt me again and again, but I forgave you. I forgave you and look what you did to me. I don’t know why I loved you, but I did. And if were able to live to tomorrow, I’d probably love you again.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’ve always wanted to tell you one thing, but I was too scared to tell you, now there is nothing more you can do to me because I am dying anyway. Sorry is a promise. Sorry means you feel guilty for what you have done and that you will try your hardest not to do it again. Sorry is useless and means nothing if you do not keep that promise.”

He laid there silently tears leaking from his eyes until she moved her wet hand. She placed it on top of his head and stroked his hair.

“One promise?”

“Anything.”

“Find help. I don’t want you to hurt anyone else like you hurt me.”

Her hand ceased moving and she closed her eyes.