A pair of Shoes

A few years back, I bought my first pair of shoes.

I had no travel plans, no reason to wear them, yet something in me wanted them.

The pair that felt magical

Soon after, life surprised me with an unplanned trip to another city.

I, who had never travelled alone, packed those shoes and went to meet a friend.

I lied to my family, called it “work,” and lived moments that felt like freedom for the first time.

When I returned, I dreamt of more such escapes, or to be closer to someone special...

And not long after, I was placed in another city.

I hesitated, overthought, compared the pros and cons…

But in the end, I put on those same shoes and stepped forward.

With time, I began believing those shoes were magical,

that they were making everything possible.

I forgot it was me who had walked into those journeys,

me who had taken the risks,

me who had worked hard to chase those dreams.

I bought new pairs, but my heart clung to the first one.

I stopped wearing them, afraid they would tear,

until one day, I realised I couldn’t wear them anymore.

I kept them as a showpiece.

Months later, while cleaning my rack,

I suddenly felt the urge to let them go.

And I did.

That moment taught me something...

We often give credit to people or things for the life we create,

forgetting that it is we who walk the extra miles.

We hold on to comfort zones, to memories, to illusions,

believing they are the reason for our independence.

But the truth is-

it was never the shoes.

It was me.

It was always me.

By

Monira Rahman Bhuiya