"I Said I Was Sorry!" Case Background Lucia and Keisha had a terrible fight, but it started out small-over who was going to pick up the car from the mechanic. They were both pressed for time, and the argument evolved into a discussion over who did the most work around their house. Lucia had resorted to threats, name-calling, and profanity. Keisha was angry through most of it, but didn't raise her voice, and asked Lucia to stop calling her names. Lucia said she needed a break and that nothing good was going to come of this conversation. She asked Keisha to leave her alone. Keisha wanted to salvage the conversation, so she tried one more time. Lucia became very distressed and told Keisha that Keisha never respected her time and to "back off." Lucia also said that Keisha deserved Lucia's nastiness because she had asked Keisha to leave her alone and Keisha wouldn't let it go. Frustrated and sad, Keisha agreed to give Lucia space. Keisha went upstairs and cried, thinking about all the hurtful comments that Lucia made, wondering if she could ever get past this conversation. After a while, instead of feeling sad, Keisha became angry and began to think of all the hurtful things that she could have said and the ways in which she might get Lucia back for Lucia's comments about her. Keisha was stewing, when Lucia came upstairs an hour later. Their conversation is given below. Lucia: I'm sorry about being a jerk downstairs. Keisha: Now you're sorry? After I've sat here by myself thinking about all the hateful things you said. I don't know what's wrong with you. Lucia: I am sorry. I just needed time to cool down. Keisha: From what? It wasn't even a big deal. And you got your way I got the car. So you get to cool down, but now I'm all worked up about it. You're still being a jerk. Lucia: Obviously, you aren't ready to talk. Keisha: Obviously. I love how you get to decide when it's time to talk, all the while accusing me of not respecting your time. Lucia: I said I was sorry. What more do you want? Keisha: Seriously? Is that supposed to be an apology? Just because you said it doesn't mean that you meant it. You're still so angry. Obviously, you are not sorry. Lucia: I was when I came up here, but you haven't taken any accountability for your part in this. Where's your apology to me? Keisha: I told you I was sorry for bringing the whole thing up. Lucia: You did not say that. You never say that you are sorry. It's never your fault, ever, is it? Keisha: I did say I was sorry. I'm sure that you didn't hear it because you were too busy yelling about how I'm too dumb to figure anything out. I'm not sure what I should apologize for now. You are the one who said all those mean things, and I'm just supposed to forget about it? You're right I'm not accepting your apology because you aren't sorry. And here's the deal-you can't even tell me that you wouldn't go there again. You get angrier and meaner every time we fight. I don't want to be called names and put down. It hurts my feelings.