#PathsWalked

Those old red sneakers got me
staring at them again,
as they hid away sneakily in a corner of
the shoe rack.
I can't seem to wear any other pair
other than these, which they seem
to know, and quietly wait in anticipation
for me to pick them.

My dad
bought me this red Adidas pair
last Christmas as a
birthday gift, despite my mom's protests
of these being expensive.
He knew how much I wanted them without
even having to explain it to him.
It was the best Christmas
of my life, because sadly, after a few
months, the celebration was not the same
with his absence still lingering.

I remember how much I
loved showing these red shoes to my friends
in college, wearing them everywhere -
for events, for celebrations and according
to my mother, her last straw was
when I wore them at a relative's
wedding! She'd call my dad totally annoyed
and would complain on how he has
spoiled his little girl. He would chuckle
and proudly exclaim that I'm truly his
daughter! Not afraid to be different,
bold and opinionated just like he is.

Those red pairs maybe old and torn,
but they hold a lot of memories.
We weren't...