Last weekend, my mom sent me to buy a new pair of slippers. Excited yet skeptical about what I’d find, I headed to the market. The stalls were brimming with colors, shapes, and sizes, but my eyes landed on a stunning maroon pair with a delicate flower etched on them. Perfect. I tried them on, walked around a little, and admired how they complemented my feet. They felt just right.

The shopkeeper...