You’ve sincerely apologized for the hurt that you have inflicted. What comes next? Actually, now it is all in the hands of the receiver. You can’t rush the process.

After you’ve apologized, let the other respond as they feel. You can’t tell them how to feel. They are entitled to still be upset or sad or scared. You can’t tell them to apologize back. You can’t insist on forgiveness or that they forget.

The other person may need to work through what happened and process your apology. Accept that your apology may not be acknowledged right away. You may have to apologize again.

Something to consider: Some people need to hear different words in an apology. You may have to say your apology in a different way for the other to really work through what happened and move on. (Think: apology languages)