Image Credit: Chat GPT
Daniel was standing just a few feet away from the pair of shoes. He watched as the owner ran across to the other side of the road and boarded a taxi. He waited to see if the man would remember the pair of shoes he had left behind and come back to get them.
Five minutes passed by.
Ten extra minutes rolled by. But still no sign of the man.
“But who forgets his shoes?” Daniel wondered.
He looked around him. Everybody seemed to be busy minding their businesses like they didn’t notice. Or maybe they just didn’t care. Daniel reached for the shoes under the bench. The were black old looking shoes with marks all over them. He thought of throwing them in the trash can. But on a second thought he decided to take them home with him.
When Daniel arrived home and he put the shoes beside the front door of the house. When his mom arrived from the market she noticed the shoes lying somewhere at the corridor.
“Daniel, what’s that outside?” she asked pointing towards where the shoes were kept.“Someone forgot them at the park.”
“And you brought them home?”
“The owner might come look for them.”
The mother laughed.
“With the rate at which you are going you might set up a lost-and-found centre one of these days.”
Daniel smiled.
The next morning, something rather strange happened. There was a knock on the door. Daniel went to see who it was. Behold, it was the man from the bus stop. He was putting on a pair of slippers.
Daniel stared at him in surprise.
“Good morning,” the man greeted. “You have what belongs to me.
“How… how did you know where I live?”
“I followed you yesterday.”
Daniel immediately wiped the smile off his face.
“You what?”
“Yes. I saw you pick them up.”
For a brief moment there was silence between them.
“So can I have them?”
Daniel handed over the pair of shoes.
The man found a bench somewhere at the porch and sat down.
“Thank you,” he said finally.
Daniel leaned his back against the wall.
“So you followed me all the way to my house because of a pair of shoes?”
The man laughed.
“Not really.”
“Then why did you follow me?”
“Because I needed to know where you live.”Daniel began to feel uncomfortable.
“Why would you want to know where I live?”“So I can say thank you.”
Daniel frowned.
“For picking up your shoes?”
“No.”
“For what, then?”
The man’s face was looking a lot serious now.“For reminding me that someone would notice if I left.”
Daniel was confused.
“My name is Samuel.”
“Daniel.”
“I know.”
“You know my name too?”
“I heard your mother call out your name yesterday.”
Daniel remembered.
“I used to live three houses from here.”
Daniel was surprised.
“Really? I’ve lived here my whole life and I have never seen you.”
“You were very little then.”
“When did you leave?”
“Seven years ago.”
Daniel joined him on the bench.
“Why did you leave?” Daniel asked.
Samuel took a deep sigh.
“My wife passed.”
Daniel went mute.
“I just couldn’t stay in the house anymore. Everything around reminded me about her. I spent years moving from one place to another.”“Then why did you come back?”
Samuel smiled.
“Yesterday.”
Daniel laughed softly.
“No. I meant, why did you come back.”
Samuel was looking serious now, almost teary.“Because I am tired.”
“Tired of what?”
“Tired of running.”
“Then stop.”
Samuel smiled. Then he got up from the bench.“I saw you almost throw the shoes into the trash can.”
“Yeah, I almost,” Daniel said with a smile.
Samuel turned to leave.
“Wait.”
Samuel turned back.
“Why don’t we go to your house?”
Samuel hesitated.
“You don’t have to.”
Samuel took a deep sigh, then started walking. Daniel followed.
They walked past three houses. On reaching there the surrounding was covered with grass. They made it to the front door.
“Do have the key?” Daniel asked.
Samuel reached out for the key in his Jean pocket. It was looking a bit rusty.
He put it in the keyhole and unlocked the door.
Dusty filled the atmosphere. There were cobwebs on the ceiling and on the couches. Samuel walked in. Daniel remained outside.
After some minutes, Samuel came out crying. Daniel just stared at him but didn’t say a word. After some time Samuel wiped the tears off his face.
“I found her cup.” Samuel said as he sniffed.
“What cup?”
“The one she drank tea from every morning.”“That’s good.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because it means not everything entirely disappeared.”
Samuel nodded. He took another look inside the house, and smiled.
The next morning Daniel came out and found Samuel sitting outside his house.
“You are still here?”
“I told you. I am tired of running.”
Daniel smiled.
His mother came out.
“Who’s this?”
“That’s our neighbor.”
“You’ve decided that already?”
Daniel shrugged.
“You came back, didn’t you?”
Samuel smiled.
“Yes, I did.”
And this time he stayed…