An Apology Overdue

Back in high school, one of my classmates went through a bit of a transformation. I remember when I had Facebook, about sixteen years ago, he was one of the first people I saw openly sharing about being vegan. He was also straight edge: no drugs, no alcohol. He dressed in black, had piercings, and expressed himself honestly.

We got along fine. He never did anything to me, and I never had an issue with him. But others I knew weren’t so kind. People would throw smartass remarks his way. He’d get picked on, mocked, belittled. And me? I stayed silent.

I didn’t agree with what was happening, but I was too much of a coward at the time to say anything. That silence never sat right with me. It still doesn’t.

Fast forward to 2017 about seven years after high school. I was at work and happened to spot him. Without hesitation, I walked straight up.

“Hey,” I said.

He turned and smiled. “Oh hey mate, how are you?”

“I’m good,” I replied. “Look… I just want to say something.”

I didn’t think. I just spoke.

“I’m vegetarian now, and I’ll probably end up vegan one day. But back in school… I was a coward. I watched people treat you unfairly. I didn’t like it, but I said nothing. I’m so sorry. I hope you can forgive me.”

He looked at me stunned. But his face softened.

“Oh mate, don’t worry about it at all. That was years ago.”

He smiled. I smiled.

And that was it. I went back to work.

It still doesn’t sit perfectly with me.

But I know I voiced it.

And I know it landed.