💔 “Shayla’s Apology — She Finally Goes to Amber to Say Sorry”

(An intense, heartfelt dialogue between two former best friends trying to heal old wounds.)

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Setting: A quiet park bench just before sunset. Amber is sitting alone, earbuds in, watching the sky. Shayla walks up hesitantly, holding a coffee in one hand, visibly nervous.

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Shayla:

(softly)

Hey… Amber?

Amber:

(turns, surprised)

Shayla? Wow. Uh… hey. I didn’t expect to see you.

Shayla:

Yeah, I figured.

I wasn’t sure you’d even want to see me… but I had to try. Can I sit?

Amber:

(pauses, gestures to the empty side of the bench)

It’s a free bench.

Shayla:

Thanks.

(sits quietly for a moment)

I brought you coffee. Vanilla latte, right? Still your favorite?

Amber:

It was…

(reluctantly takes it)

Thanks, I guess.

Shayla:

Look, I know this is weird. And maybe it’s too late. But I’ve been carrying this for so long, Amber. What happened between us… I was wrong. I messed up. And I’m sorry.

Amber:

(looking away)

Which part, exactly? There’s a list.

Shayla:

All of it.

Not showing up when you needed me. Talking behind your back when I should’ve defended you. Letting other people twist our friendship… I let it all happen. And I was too proud, or too scared, to admit it back then.

Amber:

You didn’t just “let it happen,” Shayla. You joined in. When people started turning on me, you weren’t just silent — you added to it. You knew the truth. And you still stood there and watched me fall alone.

Shayla:

I know. I did.

And I hate myself for it. I’ve thought about it every day. I don’t expect forgiveness, Amber. I don’t deserve it. But I needed to look you in the eye and say — I’m sorry. I was jealous. I was insecure. And I betrayed you.

Amber:

Jealous of what?

Shayla:

Of how people loved you. How you walked into a room and lit it up. How confident you were, even when things were hard.

I felt small next to you — not because of you, but because of how I saw myself. Instead of working through that, I let it turn into resentment. And then I let that resentment poison everything.

Amber:

(visibly emotional but trying to hold it in)

You were my best friend. I told you things I never told anyone. And when people started spreading lies, I waited for you to say something — anything. But you didn’t. You ghosted me.

Shayla:

I did. And I’ve hated myself for it.

You were the only person who really knew me. And I destroyed that because I didn’t know how to face my own ugliness.

I wish I had done this sooner. But I understand if you never want anything to do with me again.

Amber:

(silent, looking down at the coffee)

Do you remember my birthday?

Shayla:

The 17th. How could I forget?

Amber:

You didn’t show up.

You didn’t text.

You knew how hard that day was for me — my dad was barely speaking to me, my mom was out of town, and I needed someone. I waited the whole day thinking you’d surprise me like always.

And you never came.

Shayla:

I was with people I shouldn’t have been with. Trying to prove something.

I thought if I stayed away long enough, the guilt would go away. But it didn’t. It just got heavier.

I’m not asking you to go back to how things were. But if there’s any part of you that can believe I’ve changed — or at least that I want to — then maybe we can start small.

Amber:

(tears forming)

You hurt me, Shayla. Like, really hurt me.

But the fact that you’re here, sitting in front of me like this…

That means something.

Shayla:

I’d do anything to make it right. I know I can’t erase what happened, but… I can promise it won’t happen again.

I’m not the same girl I was back then.

And you didn’t deserve any of that.

Amber:

I don’t know if I’m ready to trust you again.

But maybe I’m ready to try.

Shayla:

That’s more than I hoped for.

Thank you, Amber. Really.

Even if we just talk once in a while… even if all I ever get is this conversation… I’ll be grateful.

Amber:

Let’s just take it one step at a time.

No promises.

But I’m not closing the door completely.

Shayla:

Fair.

I’ll be here — however and whenever you need. No expectations. Just… hoping we can find some kind of peace.

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The sun dips lower as the two sit in silence for a while — not as enemies, maybe not quite as friends yet, but with something cautiously starting to mend.

[                                                  SCENE END                                                 ]