Chain of Hurt

Emma stopped returning my calls
without any explanation.
I was thinking about it all day at work
took twenty minutes extra for my dinner break.
In the canteen my friend Dan texted
just to say hi.
I couldn't be bothered to reply.

That night I stayed up late drinking.
I had a hangover the next day
didn't really make any effort in the warehouse
I didn't even realise I still hadn't texted Dan.

Emma texted to say she was sorry.
She said she loved me. But couldn't be with me.
I retreated to my duvet
didn't answer when my mum phoned
took the next day off work
I knew I was being pathetic.
But sometimes people are pathetic.

Back at work I apologised for not being in.
Didn't even bother thinking of an excuse.
Later on I saw the woman I work with
kick a box across the warehouse
and shout for ----'s sake
and I realised that not once since I last spoke to Emma
had I done a decent day's work.
I was making peoples lives harder than they needed to be.

Dan phoned to say he was getting married
he wanted me to be the first person he'd tell
in the end he couldn't keep it a secret
he had planned on asking me to be best man
but now he's asking his brother.
I decided I should call my mum back.

None of these people have ever met Emma
but she is pulling their strings
ruining their days.
The world is made up of so many different perspectives
and when I saw the woman at work kick that box and swear
I realised that I sometimes forget this.