Regret

I regret that I did not catch on

I stayed within the boundary of good etiquette

I thought — it isn’t my place

I could not unlearn the need to be perceived as proper

and take the risk of reaching your insides

at the peril of my image

I regret that I left untouched your personal space

without realizing

that it was your personal hell

to me, it was about me

I thought you were rejecting me

unaware of your agony

I let it be

for far too long

I let you fall

into an abyss

thinking you would extend your arm if you wanted help

ignorant that where you were

there was no reaching out

I needed to harness you out

instead of looking for your initiative

I thought I was respecting your privacy

privacy is not sacred

and neither is my image

our bond was sacred

I let it break

Now I scramble to mend it

extending my hand to others

without fear of rejection

while

seeking help myself

without fear of imposition

without shame

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