The Seven Stages of Guilt
Name: Guilt
Age: As old as the first cover-up.
Appearance: A constant, nagging itch you can’t scratch.
Occurrence: Every time you think you’re in the clear.
Effect: Insomnia, avoidance, and the occasional panic attack.
Reason: Because you did something you knew was wrong.
Cause: Actions you’d rather forget, but can’t.
Does it matter? Like a fly buzzing inside your skull.
Treatment: Pretend it’s not there until it swallows you back.
Name: Regret
Age: As ancient as yesterday’s mistakes.
Appearance: A sigh in your morning coffee.
Occurrence: Whenever you have too much time to think.
Effect: A sinking feeling in your stomach.
Reason: Choices that seemed good at the time.
Cause: Hindsight, that annoying know-it-all.
Does it matter? Like a rock in a shoe—irritating but manageable.
Treatment: Distract yourself with more bad decisions.
Name: Shame
Age: As old as your first public embarrassment.
Appearance: A blush that won’t fade, no matter how hard you scrub.
Occurrence: When your failures come out at night.
Effect: Avoidance of eye contact and social events.
Reason: Because deep down you know.
Cause: Stupid mistakes amplified by an audience.
Does it matter? Like a stain on your favorite shirt.
Treatment: Hide it and hope everyone forgets.
Name: Remorse
Age: As fresh as your latest fumble.
Appearance: Bloodshot eyes and clenched teeth.
Occurrence: After you realize how badly you’ve messed up.
Effect: A pit in your gut and a weight on your chest.
Reason: Because now it’s too late to fix it.
Cause: Poor decision making.
Does it matter? Like a heavy backpack you can’t take off.
Treatment: Do apologize, then brace for impact.
Name: Confession
Age: As frail and fragile as a newborn.
Appearance: A nervous twitch and a lot of stammering.
Occurrence: When you can’t keep it bottled up anymore.
Effect: A brief relief followed by anxiety about the fallout.
Reason: Because carrying the secret is worse than spilling it.
Cause: Guilt that’s too heavy to bear alone
Does it matter? Like opening a can of worms.
Treatment: Blurt it out and deal with the consequences.
Name: Forgiveness
Age: As rare as a blue moon.
Appearance: A reluctant nod and a sigh.
Occurrence: When anger finally burns out.
Effect: A lighter load, but the scars remain.
Reason: Because life’s too short to hold a grudge.
Cause: Time, perspective, and maybe a little pity.
Does it matter? Like a band-aid on a deep cut.
Treatment: Accept it, but never forget.
Name: Redemption
Age: As old as the need for a second chance.
Appearance: A forced smile and an “I’m trying” attitude.
Occurrence: When you hit rock bottom and start to bounce.
Effect: Small victories, skeptical applause.
Reason: Because you’ve got nowhere to go but up.
Cause: A desperate need to prove you’re better than yourself.
Does it matter? Like a clean slate with a few smudges.
Treatment: One step forward, two steps back, repeat.
Love this series. When I read about regret occurring whenever you have too much time to think, it was like looking in the mirror.
P.S. the descriptions of each stage's appearance are fresh and amazing
Brilliant as allways