Once again, he finds himself in the position of apologizing. She’s sitting unsettlingly distant from him – tears streaming down her face. Her eyes don’t bother meeting with his. He’s relieved by this. Physically, his body nearly swallows hers.

He puts one trembling hand on her shoulder. His intentions are good, but the circumstances are unforgiving. She visibly flinches and scoots further away. His words come out a hoarse croak – barely above a whisper.

It’s disturbingly reminiscent of his father’s.

A shudder runs through his body as his eyes meet with the man’s in the mirror. That’s his mother hunched over – tears pouring down her face, slightly turned away from his father who sits guiltily beside her. He clears his throat, and his father’s gruff cough follows.

After a moment, he recites the same half-hearted speech his father used to give.

His hands are not for this, he says. They are for loving her. He was wrong. It will never happen again. He doesn’t touch her this time, neither does he allow his eyes to wander back to the revelations taking place on glass.

He’s nervously squeezing his fingers – trying to figure what to say next. He doesn’t like looking wrong, and deep inside, he resents her for putting him in the position to apologize.

She neither accepts nor rejects him.

She just sits.

Uneasy with the accusing silence, he stands to leave. His eyes lift just in time to see his father stagger to his feet, place a rose on the bed beside his mother’s bruised body, and turn to leave. His mother never acknowledges the gesture – just hugs her shaken arms in her hands.

He leaves.

His father leaves as well – suddenly struck with the need for a drink.

His wife cries silently as their son peeks in their half-opened bedroom door. Like her mother-in-law, she quickly wipes the tears when she senses the presence of him.

The boy’s struck with conflicting feelings – confusion, anger, and love.

He’s seen this scene before.

Never can he find the right words to say, so he leaves silently, shuts his bedroom door, and vows to never treat his wife this way.


**Note** This is not a poem - it's a short story. Thanks for reading and feel free to leave any feedback.