“Why are you always like this?” I cry out across the room to my sister. My words are like daggers, sharp and cold. My breath is getting heavier and heavier with each remark and I can feel the energy draining out of me. My mouth fills with a metallic sensation and my eyes feel like sand. My mom barks at us, crashing our argument in its tracks. 

     “Girls! Go upstairs to your rooms and work this out, you can’t be yelling at each other like this.” 

     I start to utter “she started it!” but I instantly took it back. 

We instantly take our gaze off each other and march upstairs. The noisy stairs creak under my feet with each step, and I slowly pick up my pace until I get to the top. I hear the soft buzz of the overhead lights and the dull, beige walls trap me inside the moment. 

     My sister begins to shout, “You never let me have anything! Why can’t you just keep your mouth shut for once?” 

I stop and take it in. Each heartbeat is a drum, pounding as every second passes. Thump. Thump. Thump. That’s when the tears start streaming down my cheek. I look in her eyes, but I can see right through. None of us were thinking about what we said. It was like we had voice boxes talking for us. I stand still but watch her walk away from me. I feel trapped in a bubble, and I just need to get out. I just need to think. I don’t know what I need to do so I can escape this battle. My brain stirs with hurtful words I could say. My ears are filled with noise that isn’t there. My arid throat overwhelms me, and I can’t say a word anymore. Suddenly, I bring myself back and I see the solution standing right in front of me. Apologize. That’s all you need to do. Although I was sure that I was right and she was wrong, I knew that was the sensible thing to do. Woah. A new experience of patience, and realization. In the past, I’d speak before I think, and only consider myself in a situation. But now I knew that all she needed was an apology. I managed to speak up. 

                                            “I’m sorry.” 

We pause. A shared moment of forgiveness strikes our souls. She steps towards me and I hug her. A beam of light shines through us and we are connected. She whispers through sobs, 

                                         “I’m sorry too.” 

A warm feeling flushed over me as I realized what I had done. My senses rushed with pure happiness and a sentiment of maturity. It seemed so hard to put everything behind me and apologize, but it was worth it. The light bulbs twinkling above my head are stinging my eyes as I wipe my tears. At last, we part our ways and I trudge to my room, exhausted from arguing with all my energy. I let out a sigh and flop onto my bed, my body like flimsy jello. My head pounds with unreleased tension, but I ignore it. I shut my eyes and drift away into the night, reflecting onto the pond of my actions. At this moment I realized how important it is to put things in perspective and care for others. In the beginning, apologizing used to seem overwhelming and scary. But once I did it from my heart I felt so amazing. I will never forget this moment and the genuine feeling of happiness I got from this simple action, an apology.