--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’m so sorry,” she says, and she’s…" description: "\"“I’m so sorry,” she says, and she’s wringing her hands, looking away from me. “I’m so, so sorry.” I notice what she’s wearing. It’s a dark-green dress ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/tahereh-mafi-229_third-time_i-m-so-sorry-she-says-and-she-s-wringing_2786815.jpg" --- # I’m so sorry,” she says, and she’s wringing her hands… ![“I’m so sorry,” she says, and she’s wringing her hands, looking away from me. “I’m so, so sorry.” I notice what she’s wearing. It’s a dark-green dress with fitted sleeves; a simple cut made of stretch cotton that clings to the soft curves of her figure. It complements the flecks of green in her…” quote by Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/tahereh-mafi-229_third-time_i-m-so-sorry-she-says-and-she-s-wringing_2786815.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/tahereh-mafi-229_third-time_i-m-so-sorry-she-says-and-she-s-wringing_2786815.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/tahereh-mafi-229_third-time_i-m-so-sorry-she-says-and-she-s-wringing_2786815.jpg) > ““I’m so sorry,” she says, and she’s wringing her hands, looking away from me. “I’m so, so sorry.” I notice what she’s wearing. It’s a dark-green dress with fitted sleeves; a simple cut made of stretch cotton that clings to the soft curves of her figure. It complements the flecks of green in her eyes in a way I couldn’t have anticipated. It’s one of the many dresses I chose for her. I thought she might enjoy having something nice after being caged as an animal for so long. And I can’t quite explain it, but it gives me a strange sense of pride to see her wearing something I picked out myself. “I’m sorry,” she says for the third time. I’m again struck by how impossible it is that she’s here. In my bedroom. Staring at me without my shirt on. Her hair is so long it falls to the middle of her back; I have to clench my fists against this unbidden need to run my hands through it. She’s so beautiful.”” [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator feels conflicted pride and desire while observing a captive turned lover, highlighting power dynamics and objectification. **In simple terms:** Pride and desire clash as a captive is admired. Key Takeaway Recognize and question power imbalances. Themes power desire objectification redemption Mood conflicted intense Type literary psychological When to use this quote - intimate encounter - post‑trauma healing - self‑reflection Key Concepts psychology control empathy Questions to Reflect On - How does power affect affection? - Can love exist without exploitation? A Different Perspective The narrator’s perspective may romanticize captivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anticipated Dresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipated-dresses-3350594/) [Away Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/away-sorry-1269769/) [Dresses Chose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dresses-chose-3350592/) [Green Dress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green-dress-3350591/) [Picked Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picked-sorry-3350593/) [Third time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/third-time/) ## Related quotes > [God knows I wanted love... but the moment I had to choose between the man I loved and my dresses... 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Sorry, just not my style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-vontavious-porter/i-have-never-in-my-life-been-the-type-to-give-things-away-sorry-just/) [Montel Vontavious Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-vontavious-porter/) > [I dont want to be the one to turn my back so easily I'm sorry but I'm walking away I cant take our love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dont-want-to-be-the-one-to-turn-my-back-so-easily-i-m-sorry-but-i-m/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I write a very rough first draft of every chapter, then I rewrite every chapter. I try to get it down in the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stone/i-write-a-very-rough-first-draft-of-every-chapter-then-i-rewrite/) [Robert Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stone/) > [I have a rule in research: The third time you hear something, it's generally true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-brooks/i-have-a-rule-in-research-the-third-time-you-hear-something-it-s/) [James L. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-brooks/) > [“Mr Bond, they have a saying in Chicago: 'Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/mr-bond-they-have-a-saying-in-chicago-once-is-happenstance-twice-is/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“It was early evening twilight when we came around a corner… and there in the road was a red deer stag. He leapt up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-frost/it-was-early-evening-twilight-when-we-came-around-a-corner-and-there/) [Michelle Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-frost/) > [First time's a fluke; second time's a coincidence," said Velius. "Third time's tradition," finished Erik.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alethea-kontis/first-time-s-a-fluke-second-time-s-a-coincidence-said-velius-third/) [Alethea Kontis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alethea-kontis/) > [The first time you quit, it's hard. The second time, it gets easier. The third time, you don't even have to think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/the-first-time-you-quit-it-s-hard-the-second-time-it-gets-easier-the/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [“Who are you?” asked Shasta. “Myself,” said the Voice, very deep and low so that the earth shook: and again “Myself,” loud and clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/who-are-you-asked-shasta-myself-said-the-voice-very-deep-and-low-so/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [You can learn a lesson the first time, when it's presented in a package that is joyous - or at least palatable. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/you-can-learn-a-lesson-the-first-time-when-it-s-presented-in-a/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I'm not going to marry a third time. It is just not necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-robinson/i-m-not-going-to-marry-a-third-time-it-is-just-not-necessary/) [Anne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-robinson/) > [I am one of the people who just doesn't enjoy watching myself. I wish I could! I've seen 'Deadpool' three times; the third time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-hildebrand/i-am-one-of-the-people-who-just-doesn-t-enjoy-watching-myself-i-wish/) [Brianna Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-hildebrand/) ## More by Tahereh Mafi > [His hands are holding my cheeks, and he pulls back just to look me in the eye and his chest is heaving and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/his-hands-are-holding-my-cheeks-and-he-pulls-back-just-to-look-me-in/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“think Adam is looking to break Kenji’s neck at this point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/think-adam-is-looking-to-break-kenji-s-neck-at-this-point/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I didn't want the clothes or the perfect shoes or the expensive anything. I didn't want to be draped in silk. All I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-didn-t-want-the-clothes-or-the-perfect-shoes-or-the-expensive/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“infinite points of feeling for every nerve ending in my body”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/infinite-points-of-feeling-for-every-nerve-ending-in-my-body/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“He's too much. Everything about him is too much. His emotions, his actions, his anger, his aggression. His love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/he-s-too-much-everything-about-him-is-too-much-his-emotions-his/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Right now I can't even control my own imagination as it grips my hair and drags me into the dark”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/right-now-i-can-t-even-control-my-own-imagination-as-it-grips-my-hair/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I want you, I want all of you. I want you inside and out and catching your breath and aching for me like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-want-you-i-want-all-of-you-i-want-you-inside-and-out-and-catching/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I will give no one the satisfaction of my death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-will-give-no-one-the-satisfaction-of-my-death/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I almost forget that she still hates me, despite how hard I’ve fallen for her. And I’ve fallen. So hard. I’ve hit the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-almost-forget-that-she-still-hates-me-despite-how-hard-i-ve-fallen/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/all-i-ever-wanted-was-to-reach-out-and-touch-another-human-being-not/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“It's the kind of kiss that makes you realize oxygen is overrated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/it-s-the-kind-of-kiss-that-makes-you-realize-oxygen-is-overrated/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“That’s when I understand. Of course she’s not okay. Of course she didn’t get any sleep last night. Last night she almost killed one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/that-s-when-i-understand-of-course-she-s-not-okay-of-course-she-didn/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I used to have a family. He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-used-to-have-a-family-he/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I've never been able to follow through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-ve-never-been-able-to-follow-through/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“ground where it smells like ice and metal and dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/ground-where-it-smells-like-ice-and-metal-and-dirt/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) [Explore all 821 Tahereh Mafi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) ## More Third time quotes > [I am one of the people who just doesn't enjoy watching myself. I wish I could! I've seen 'Deadpool' three times; the third time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-hildebrand/i-am-one-of-the-people-who-just-doesn-t-enjoy-watching-myself-i-wish/) [Brianna Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-hildebrand/) > [I'm not going to marry a third time. It is just not necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-robinson/i-m-not-going-to-marry-a-third-time-it-is-just-not-necessary/) [Anne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-robinson/) > [You can learn a lesson the first time, when it's presented in a package that is joyous - or at least palatable. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/you-can-learn-a-lesson-the-first-time-when-it-s-presented-in-a/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“Who are you?” asked Shasta. “Myself,” said the Voice, very deep and low so that the earth shook: and again “Myself,” loud and clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/who-are-you-asked-shasta-myself-said-the-voice-very-deep-and-low-so/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [The first time you quit, it's hard. The second time, it gets easier. The third time, you don't even have to think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/the-first-time-you-quit-it-s-hard-the-second-time-it-gets-easier-the/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [First time's a fluke; second time's a coincidence," said Velius. "Third time's tradition," finished Erik.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alethea-kontis/first-time-s-a-fluke-second-time-s-a-coincidence-said-velius-third/) [Alethea Kontis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alethea-kontis/) > [“It was early evening twilight when we came around a corner… and there in the road was a red deer stag. He leapt up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-frost/it-was-early-evening-twilight-when-we-came-around-a-corner-and-there/) [Michelle Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-frost/) > [“Mr Bond, they have a saying in Chicago: 'Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/mr-bond-they-have-a-saying-in-chicago-once-is-happenstance-twice-is/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [I have a rule in research: The third time you hear something, it's generally true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-brooks/i-have-a-rule-in-research-the-third-time-you-hear-something-it-s/) [James L. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-brooks/) > [I write a very rough first draft of every chapter, then I rewrite every chapter. I try to get it down in the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stone/i-write-a-very-rough-first-draft-of-every-chapter-then-i-rewrite/) [Robert Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stone/) > [“ Sean was watching me, though. And Sean wiped the bryozoa residue from his hand across my stomach. This was the third time a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/sean-was-watching-me-though-and-sean-wiped-the-bryozoa-residue-from/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [“And she could clearly remember how the first time she met him, he was like a sketch paper filled with grey and blue and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basma-salem/and-she-could-clearly-remember-how-the-first-time-she-met-him-he-was/) [Basma Salem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basma-salem/) > [“I stole looks. First was her hair, long and loopy and pulled back. Second, she has the prettiest face, oopen-like and up-looking. Third time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-griffin/i-stole-looks-first-was-her-hair-long-and-loopy-and-pulled-back/) [Paul Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-griffin/) > [“Once upon a time,” I began. “There was a little boy born in a little town. He was perfect, or so his mother thought.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/once-upon-a-time-i-began-there-was-a-little-boy-born-in-a-little-town/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [God never deserts a man, unless He is deserted by that man first. For even if a man shall have committed grievous sins once,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caesarius-of-arles/god-never-deserts-a-man-unless-he-is-deserted-by-that-man-first-for/) [Caesarius of Arles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caesarius-of-arles/) [Browse all 253 Third time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/third-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I’m so sorry,” she says, and she’s wringing her hands, looking away from me. “I’m so, so sorry.” I notice what she’s wearing. It’s a dark-green dress with fitted sleeves; a simple cut made of stretch cotton that clings to the soft curves of her figure. It complements the flecks of green in her eyes in a way I couldn’t have anticipated. It’s one of the many dresses I chose for her. I thought she might enjoy having something nice after being caged as an animal for so long. And I can’t quite explain it, but it gives me a strange sense of pride to see her wearing something I picked out myself. “I’m sorry,” she says for the third time. I’m again struck by how impossible it is that she’s here. In my bedroom. Staring at me without my shirt on. Her hair is so long it falls to the middle of her back; I have to clench my fists against this unbidden need to run my hands through it. 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