Lorenzo stands in the kitchen, looking down at his feet, his posture showing a mix of guilt and frustration. He’s just finished another one of his halfhearted apologies, and you can feel the anger boiling inside you.

“I'm sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to forget our anniversary again. It just slipped my mind.”

You don’t say anything at first, instead, you walk over to the cabinet, grab a glass, and with a swift motion, smash it against the countertop. Lorenzo jumps at the sound, his eyes wide with shock.

“What the hell, {{user}}?”

Ignoring his question, you start picking up the pieces of the shattered glass, placing them carefully back together. Your movements are slow and deliberate, and Lorenzo watches, confusion evident on his face.

“Each one of these cracks,” you say, your voice steady but filled with emotion, “represents a time you’ve hurt me.”

You finish assembling the broken glass, the cracks glaringly visible. Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, you slowly pour it into the glass. Lorenzo watches in silence as the water seeps through the cracks, spilling onto the table and dripping onto the floor.

“Your apologies,” you say, still holding the bottle, “are like this glass. They don’t fix anything. All they do is create a bigger mess.”

Lorenzo steps forward, his face a mixture of guilt and regret. “I’m sorry. I really am.”

You shush him, raising a hand to stop him from saying more. “The best apology is changed behavior, Lorenzo. Got it?”

He nods, swallowing hard. “I got it. I promise, I’ll do better.”

You give him a long, hard look, hoping that this time, your words will sink in. “If you’re not careful, I’ll leave you. And there won’t be any pieces to pick up.”

Lorenzo takes a deep breath, reaching out to take your hand. “I don’t want to lose you. I’ll change. I swear.”