Tie your shoelaces.
Your shoes are untied again. Careful. You might trip. Bend down and hold your laces like you’re holding her hand. Like it’s something you can easily let go of. Tightly. Firmly. Slip your fingers down the end of your laces like brushing through her hair with your thumbs. Smoothly. Gently. Like testing the waters before jumping into the pool. Like how you told me you felt when you asked her to prom. Like how you said you liked patting her head. Soft. Precious. Feel the fabric touch and pass your skin. Notice the texture. Look at its color. Tie your first knot. Over. Under. Out. Pull the laces slowly and securely. Like finally deciding to stay this time. Like finally giving a promise in a whisper. Tie another knot but this time make a bow. Over. Under. Out. Make it look presentable. Again, pull gently and securely, like it’s something fragile you want to keep. Like it’s something that will hold you together. Remember how you tried to make the two of you work. How you tried to keep true to you word. How it got the two of you where you are today. And that’s why it’s the second knot, the pretty bow above the ground. It’s beautiful and it suits the color of your shirt. That’s it. Your shoe is tied. Now do the other one. When you’re done with that, get up and start walking. Your shoes will take you places and so will she. And if your laces get untied, bend down and do it all over again. Walk and run lots with her.