For the purposes of this exercise,her name was Danielle,
but this is almost certainly filled with lies.

In Second Grade, while playing in the park
I slapped her.
I didn’t mean to. I didn’t notice her there.
It was barely a hit.
I was spinning like a top
approaching dizzying speeds
unaware of direction, identity, sense or control.
I smacked her
and she sought revenge.

She struck me back
and war was declared
for the weeks that followed
because I couldn’t understand her animosity.
A sorry wouldn’t do
for the damage I did was deeper than I could discern.

It all fizzled eventually
as all Second Grade affairs do.
I don’t even remember her name now.
It could have been Danielle
but it, like everything else,
is probably a lie.