To Apologise

You nod at Valerie, and she bites her lip shyly and steps into the classroom, shutting the door behind her. You watch as she walks towards you, her head down and her hands clasped in front of her. She stands beside your desk, and when she looks up you can see that she's been crying.

"What is it Valerie?"

"I wanted...I wanted to apologise...for acting how I did. I was wrong...I don't know what got into me..."

"You should be apologising to the girls you insulted, not to me."

"Yes...and I will...but I wanted to apologise to you...I said some terrible things...about you...and I was wrong...I'm so sorry..."

"I've heard worse," you say flatly, in a dismissive tone. "Apology accepted. Don't do it again."