writing prompts for anger

anger is grief with its jaw set. write it here instead of sending it — the point is the saying, not the delivery.

• do you think they feel guilty or are you not even something to feel guilty about
• what's the thing you can't forgive them for
• are you angry or just really really sad. or both.
• say it. the one thing you would've screamed if you weren't so busy being calm and reasonable
• what's the lie they told that still makes your face hot when you remember it
• you were so patient with them. who is gonna be patient with you
• do you think they ever lie awake feeling sick about it or do they just sleep
• name the thing you forgave that you shouldn't have
• you're allowed to be furious. you don't have to be the bigger person tonight
• what did they take that they didn't even want. they just didn't want you to have it
• the apology you got was for the wrong thing wasn't it. what did they actually need to say
• how many times did you make excuses for them out loud to people who were trying to warn you
• what's the sentence of theirs you replay just to stay angry enough not to text back
• do they get to keep the version of you that was soft. or are you taking her back
• you gave them the benefit of the doubt every single time. tally it up now
• what would you say to their face if you knew they'd actually have to sit there and hear it
• they're out there telling their side. what's the part they're leaving out
• how dare they be fine. say that. how dare they
• what's the thing they did that you laughed off then that you want to throw across the room now
• did they ever once choose you when it cost them something. or only when it was free
• you're not crazy. you were never crazy. who made you doubt that and do you still let them
• what promise of theirs do you want to read back to them word for word
• they got to leave clean and you got the wreckage. where's the fairness in that
• what's the comeback you thought of three days too late. say it here instead
• did they make you small so they could feel big. how long did it work
• what are you still defending them for and who are you protecting really
• the worst part isn't that they did it. it's that they knew exactly what it would do to you and did it anyway. didn't they
• you kept the receipts in your chest for months. dump them out
• what did they call closure that was really just them needing you to be okay so they could feel less guilty
• how many of your own needs did you shrink so they wouldn't feel crowded
• they get to be the one who left. what story did that let them tell about you
• what's the thing you bit back every time. let it out, no one here is grading your tone
• did they ever say sorry or did they just say they felt bad that you were hurt
• you weren't too much. you were exactly enough and they couldn't handle being seen by someone who was. say it meaner than that
• what did loving them cost you that you only see the bill for now
• they want to be friends. what's the laugh you held back when they asked
• what's the favor you did at 2am that they never even thanked you for
• you were loyal to someone who was auditioning replacements. how does that sit tonight
• did they break it slow so they could pretend it wasn't them. catch them in it
• what excuse of theirs do you want to set on fire right now
• they cried too. but whose tears were performance and whose were the real wound
• how long did you confuse their carelessness for something you'd done wrong
• what's the version of events they'll tell their next person about you. correct the record here
• you held the whole thing up alone and they called it a partnership. what's the word you actually want to use
• did they ever fight for it or did they just let you do all the bleeding
• what's the kindness you showed them that they used as a weapon later
• they're sleeping fine tonight. that should make you angrier than it makes you sad. does it
• what would younger you say if she saw how long you let them stay
• say the thing you keep softening for everyone else. don't soften it here