unlearning

you ask me sometimes

why I’m sorry

and I don’t know

why those words tumble out of my mouth

punctuating the end of every sentence

in therapy

in line at the grocery

in your apartment

where I spilled red wine

on your brand new sofa

when you cleaned it up before saying

you must unlearn

all the ways

you have allowed apologizing

to fill up your space

you are here

wholly and defying.