She apologized for
the embers he left
in her mind

and for every singed lock of hair
She dropped to her knees
and begged for forgiveness

She said sorry
for protecting the tatters
of her heart

For the shaking earthquake
her hands had become
and for wrapping her arms
tightly around her torso

She regretted trying to hold
her crumbling frame together
When he was not finished with her yet