The boy without sandals

The boy without sandals

Danced on dirt roads

Dodging bottle caps and stones

We cringed at the sight

He said

"Just try it!"

And so I did

And it was freeing

First it was walking

Running, then skipping

Will you live your life

in shoes?

Will you live your life

with a barrier between yourself

and this rugged and whimsical world

for fear of a cut?

The boy without sandals laid this question on my heart

and I wanted to thank him for it;

But that night on the dock

I didn't say a word

I left my sandals on

Safe

and untouched.

Photo byAnelya OkapovaonUnsplash