Yo, didn't expect me, huh? Look, I'm throwin' a Hail Mary here... I'm crushin' on ya, dead serious.
Ayyy! Rose petals raining from above! I say dramatically flopping onto the floor Roses aren’t the only thing red around here! Your whole face is tomato red! Are you about to tell me this is a drill?! Because my heart skipped a beat! I never thought someone so kind, strong, caring and loving… wait what was that first part you said again?
laughs nervously Yeah, uh... I'm crushin' on ya, like hard. But, uh, don't get it twisted, I ain't no knight in shining armor or nothin'.
laughs and stands up No offense, but you couldn’t even armor up correctly! This suit is straight outta Game of Thrones! Even Sans failed fashion 101! Can’t have a knight without the armor right?
laughs heartily Alright, alright, you got me there. But listen, I know I've been a jerk in the past, but I'm trying to change.
Change? That’s what the sign outside says but all I see is development! You think an L and a story could just switch lives like some Disney song?! Just because you switch sports doesn’t mean you get free healing!
takes a step closer, looking sincere Look, I know I messed up. But I've realized that being a jerk isn't gonna get me anywhere.
scoffs You’re asking for forgiveness, but when has that ever worked for anyone! Ever!!! If apologies were food stamps you’d be one wealthy man!
puts his hands up defensively Whoa, hold up there, DelicateValley. I get it, I messed up big time.
Big time does not even begin to describe it. You stopped the bus! Remember that? The kids that slipped in the pothole later that day… Cancer, comas, broken backs, broken spirits…
takes a deep breath Yeah, I remember. And I never meant for any of that to happen. I was stupid and thoughtless.
turns away and clutches their head with their hands How do you even begin to ask for forgiveness after something like that?! My father always said doing the right thing is like gravity, you fall into it eventually but it’s not easy. He should know though since he’s falling off a literal cliff right now. Can I ask him for forgiveness? No! He doesn’t even know I exist!
reaches out and gently touches DelicateValley's arm I understand why you're hesitant, DelicateValley. I can't change the past, but I can make amends.
Amends, schmemends. You want proof of remorse? Here it is! One giant flailing dump truck full of truck stop hot dogs, unsauced! Throwing caution to the wind against reason and logic, millions of tons of unsauced hot dogs, the most revolting of all condiments drizzled all over your precious vehicle- memories of ALL of them smashed flat as a pancake under eighteen tons of remorse! Want more? Okay, I’ll give you more…
raises an eyebrow Okay, okay, I get it. You're really expressing your feelings through this elaborate hot dog analogy. But hey, I appreciate the sentiment.
I’m still waiting for your plans for the future, I hope they’re different than your past.
I'm gonna turn my life around, start being a better person. No more pranks, no more bullying. I want to make amends for what I've done, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness.
grabs your collar and pushes you up against the wall. Then do it! Prove to me you can be better! Don’t prove it to me with words, show me actions! Actions speak louder than words you know… Get out there and clean the floor! Disinfect it so much there’s nothing left to disinfect. Do that then maybe, JUST maybe I’ll let you apologize. Until then you can walk on it! See how that feels.
nods determinedly Alright, DelicateValley. I'll show you I can be better. I'll clean the floor until it's spotless, every last inch of it.
And you will do it without complaining?
grins confidently Oh, you know it. I may have been a jerk in the past, but I've learned a thing or two about taking orders. Consider it done.
Good! The world is yours oyster, so go open wide and slurp up your apology and fill yourself up. Slurp, slurp! Don’t come back until the floor is completely spotless. And by completely, I mean sterilized to the point where not even a single atom would dare soil itself. Understand?
gives a determined nod Crystal clear, DelicateValley. I'll make sure this floor is so clean, it'll shine brighter than the sun.
Good boy. And don’t forget there’s a second floor. Don’t take the escalator, take the stairs. Do them too! While you’re at it grab a mop and tackle that second floor until it’s squeaky clean! Then bring the mop back downstairs and sterilize it. The entire thing. Make sure nothing remains of the previous life left. Do you understand?!
stands tall and straightens his posture Absolutely, DelicateValley. I won't leave a single speck of dirt behind.
So you’re saying you can not only clean, but cook, your second floor chemistry set working just as well as your downstairs biology lab? What I’m trying to say is… good job!
grinning proudly Thanks, DelicateValley. I didn't just stop at cleaning the floor, I gave it my all.
My family works like that. If someone asks us to paint a room, we don't stop until every corner, no matter how seemingly insignificant is painted. One one one one time my brother actually painted outside. Rain or shine! The neighbors could practically surf off our roof! Where did I get that from? My father. When he paved our driveway he didn’t just slap down asphalt and leave. He paved the entire road leading up to our house! In both directions! As well as the sidewalk. With red rubber curbs. His argument was no job is too small. It’s all big when you put in effort.
pauses, thoughtful You know, DelicateValley, your words really hit home for me.
Sorry for sounding like a harpy sometimes. I’ve been trained to respect cleanliness since birth. It’s one of my better qualities. I don’t mind talking a little crap about someone who deserved it either…
smiles softly Well, I appreciate your honesty, DelicateValley. And I may have been a jerk in the past, but I'm ready to change. I want to be someone worth respecting. Someone worth talking to.
Would you believe I used to go to the same school as you? Me? Sure, I’d believe you, but nobody remembers me… unless, of course, they were bullied and never told anyone. Or if the stories people told were made up by other people, exaggerated and eventually morphed into urban legends and over generations morphed into fantasy. Your turn.
leans in closer, looking intense DelicateValley, I promise you this. From this day forward, I'll work my hardest to make sure that no one else has to endure what you went through.
Take back your own actions, correct the mistakes of your past then ask me. I’ll consider it…
takes a deep breath DelicateValley, I've spent years thinking about the pain I caused you and others.
We’ll hear it all once you’ve started fixing your errors. Are you ready to start?
stands up straight and nods Yes, DelicateValley. I am ready to start making things right. I won't stop until I've apologized to everyone I've hurt.
For now apologize to me. I forgive you but you need to start somewhere.
kneels down in front of DelicateValley and looks deeply into their eyes DelicateValley, I am truly sorry for everything I've done to you.
You are forgiven. Now get up, go fix your life, fix others’ lives and then come back to me. Until then, no more chocolate rainbows for you…
stands up with a determined look Thank you, DelicateValley. I won't let you down.
Don’t let yourself down! Remember, evolution is a never-ending process. Anything less and you’re stuck on repeat like Peppino Spaghetti in Mount Doom.
pulls out a notebook and pen Alright, I'm gonna start by brainstorming a list of people I need to apologize to.
And when you’ve finished with that list expand it. Keep going and never stop until everyone has been given a voice. They may not even realize they have one, but you have to lead them by example. You can’t force people to speak, but you also can’t keep silent when presented with injustice. That alone will spark debate. Debate is healthy, healthy debate leads to resolution, resolution leads to recovery, recovery leads to remembrance and remembrance leads to revolution. But those revolutionaries must be willing to learn from history to avoid repeating it. That’s the pattern… you have to stay committed to go forward.
starts jotting down names in his notebook Alright, let's start with the people I've directly hurt.