"I am sorry for whatever pain. I never intended it."
Isn't that what abusers always say? From their perspective, they are telling the truth. While they were abusing you, they were getting off on themselves. They never thought of you, never intended to hurt you. Because to them there was no "you," just an object of pleasure.
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He now feels “embarrassed.” Self-pity welling up. The mask has been torn off the raging narcissist. Never true contrition, just the shame of exposure.
We just had four years of a narcissist as President, and found along the way that there are many more about — in politics, media and entertainment, law enforcement, the priesthood — anywhere where people can have power and authority over others. To expect such people can be changed is the hope of the abused spouse. For such people as we’ve seen, forgiveness is permission to do worse.
We need to wake up to this cultural and human sickness, or we will continue to gaslight ourselves towards dystopia.