How do I tell you I'm sorry -

With a gesture, a look, a touch?

How is it I never realized

I hurt you so very much?

I do not ask forgiveness,

A comfort I'll never deserve.

I merely want to let you know,

But I cannot find the nerve.

To finally confront you, face-to-face,

To look you in the eye,

To face your wrath, your apathy -

Too terrified to try.

You called me selfish, I turned away,

I festered and I fled;

Cutting and wounding and lashing out,

Just to see if you bled.

Betraying and deceiving you,

I surely had no right

To snatch away such a precious gem;

A dark thief in the night.

Four years and forever passed

To bring us to this day,

When I present these simple words

I never thought to say.

The time has come, it's long past due,

To put aside my fear;

Would this confession torture you,

Or have you longed to hear?

To hear those two forbidden words,

To vanquish all the pain,

To understand my dearest wish:

To know you once again.

The years aged me remarkably,

Though they have not made me wise;

I do know I erred irrevocably -

For that I apologize.