The things he left behind Pt 1

1. A pair of shoes. Red and white airmax. A half size too small.

2. A few dozen cassette tapes. Mostly sermons from a range of preachers. Some signed by him and his mother

3. A cassette tape player

4. A Bible encased in protective red leather case

5. A red sash with gold lettering identifying him as a pastor

6. A bag of assorted Ties

The first thing I did was sit them all on one table. I walked past them a few times as I entered or exited the room. My eyes kept getting drawn to the shoes. I went back in forth in my mind on whether I would wear them to feel his presence or leave them sitting as a monument to the memory.

The next day I decided I would wear them until the soles wore through and I couldn't take another step in them. I proceed to walk out the door and take the longest run I have ever taken. I put no thought into conserving energy just taking every step and feeling like he was walking right by my side. Like he chose to leave his body behind so he could join me on the journey.

By the third mile I started feeling fatigue. I looked over and saw him still running with me. Not the strong full figured man from my youth but the one shrunken and worn by life. I felt tears start to fall. I yelled at him that he couldn't get tired yet. He couldn't fall yet. I still needed him. We kept running.

By the 5th mile i Knew he was reaching his limit. I thought to stop. We kept running. I knew my body was passing its limit too. I thought to stop but It felt like if I stopped, he would depart so I kept running, face wet yelling into the air. It started to rain. At least it covered the tears

I stopped paying attention to distance. Fell into a trance. My body is completely numb yet still in motion. I had run a long way from home. We had to at least make it back. My steps lost their pattern. He started to stumble. I knew I couldn't keep pushing him. I told him to leave the rest to me just to hang on.

We continued to run. Our steps began to feel like one. The weighty feeling gave pockets where I could fully take in the world around me. As I willed a now weakened body to keep finding steps. We made it back home and I collapsed onto my bed. I couldn’t feel him anymore. Still I knew he was walking with me every step of the way and I kept my word and wore those shoes til the soul gave way.

These are the things he left behind. Stay tuned for pt 2