Years ago I hurt someone that I cared about. Very badly, in an honestly awful way. I’ve apologized since but it's hard to feel as if a mere apology can do anything to make amends. At any rate, they've suddenly come back into my life and I don't know how to behave. My first inclination is to avoid them and give them space, but that feels more like hiding. On the other hand, asking about how things can be made up to them feels presumptuous. As if what I did was the kind of thing that can be made up for. I miss them, I miss being able to talk to them. I think, possibly somewhat presumptuously, that maybe they miss me too.
I suppose my question is, how does one cross the chasm of past failures when the distance seems so vast, and you can't tell if the person on the other side even wants you there?