I\u2019m sorry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I abandoned you, and the excuses are hollow; like an empty, rotting log on the forest floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I defend my actions, hoping that I can sleep at night; the reasons fall dismally short when I wake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the daylight, I numb myself to ease the guilt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I try to swallow it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like a piece of stale teacake, the guilt gets stuck in my throat. A sip of tea does not dislodge it. A sip of tea, fails to ease the pressure I feel in my stomach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I distract myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I immerse myself in an ocean of \u2018things to do\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The guilt does not drown. It floats to the surface again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The only choice I have is to try again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I will meet you, and face you and your pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wish I could run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have to stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have to start somewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m sorry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I\u2019m sorry. I abandoned you, and the excuses are hollow; like an empty, rotting log on the forest floor. I defend my actions, hoping that …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":3985,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[19],"tags":[364,344,21,548,547,549],"class_list":["post-3983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poetry","tag-apology","tag-michele-mitchell","tag-poetry","tag-regret","tag-sorry","tag-unspoken"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/chitto-cancio-zlKnDMemevo-unsplash.jpg?fit=2697%2C4045&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/sff1uY-unspoken","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4257,"url":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=4257","url_meta":{"origin":3983,"position":0},"title":"This is Not a Poem","author":"Elissa McKay","date":"March 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThis is not poetry!\u201dmy son shoutsthe darkness of his eyesswimming in outrage Because I can\u2019t just arrangewords on the pageto make pretty shapesthe words have to mean somethingor rhyme (rhyme can stand infor meaning) poetry has tobe profound More meaningful thanthe long clean lines of armand leg, his straight nose,his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Memory Book"","block_context":{"text":"Memory Book","link":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?cat=120"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rachael-crowe-jK8JZGgBtHM-unsplash.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rachael-crowe-jK8JZGgBtHM-unsplash.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rachael-crowe-jK8JZGgBtHM-unsplash.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rachael-crowe-jK8JZGgBtHM-unsplash.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2909,"url":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=2909","url_meta":{"origin":3983,"position":1},"title":"This Is Not Our Time","author":"Teresa Lawler","date":"November 12, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"I'd rather endureall of the sadnessthan remain Unknowing.Bring me back,hold me. 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