That pair of brand new shoes,
Shiny, clean, untouched by dirt and grime.
They’re your new favorite.
You wear them everywhere go.
Showing them off to your friends.
Following the instructions,
Cleaning them and caring for them

Then one day you get a dirt on the toe.
You’re devastated,
That’s it.
You can’t wear them anymore.
You tuck them away in your closet for a little while.

They sit there, and
you see them every time you open the door.
You think to yourself,
It’s okay.
You can work with a just a little dirt.
So you take them out again.

You wear them, but there’s always that stain.
Reminding you of how you got it.
You don’t feel as pretty wearing them.
They’re just kind of there, on your feet.

You wear them until they fall apart.
Broken,
cracked,
falling apart at the seams.
Holes growing bigger and bigger.

And you throw them out, as you remember
all the times you spent with them.
With him.