Balanced And Barefoot Novels & Stories

he said suddenly. “Where?” He nodded toward the beach. “ Taking a Walk.” I looked down at the heels Angela had forced me into. “I’m wearing high heels,” I said. “They’re not meant for the beach. Or walking in sand.” Axel Moretti followed my gaze to the shoe, and then he sighed softly, almost amused. “Just take them off.” “Take them off and wear what?” “Let’s go barefoot,” he said simply. And then, to my surprise, he bent down and took off his own shoes.

“I noticed none of us were provided with shoes.” It wasn’t a question, but he understood the question behind it. I looked down and realized that even though he was dressed, he was still barefoot as well. “Yes, everyone will be barefoot for the ceremony. It connects us to nature and those we have lost who are now one with the earth.” It was a beautiful sentiment. -----

I walked, half complaining and half breathing, for hours in darkness, barefoot. * * *

He then turned to look at Levy and questioned, “Does your feet hurt a lot?” “It’s nothing,” Levy sighed with a shake of her head. “I am not used to such pointed heels and long hours that's all. In the prison we used to stay barefoot, sometimes the simplest shoes were given to us because our patrons did not want us to burn or stab our feet on something and make them lose their money. However, I have never worn heels…and that too for a day.”

Veda gave the instruction herself, which was the most efficient version — not patient explanation but immediate correction, standing beside each of them as they took their first steps on the wide base-plates and adjusting weight distribution by pointing at where the balance had failed before the failure finished happening. The principle was counter-intuitive. Everything in Xander's physical training said that stability came from a wide base and active correction. The stilts required the opposite — a narrow commitment to the correct vertical line, trusting the base-plate to do the work, any active correction becoming the problem rather than the solution. Marcus got it first, which made sense

He asked as he stared down at my bare feet. “Yes. Anything wrong with that?” I asked him, returning my eyes forward. “It is unhygienic,” I gave a short laugh. “You are telling a nurse that?” I asked and glanced at him as we continued walking. “The heels were killing. It has been a long time since I wore one and sometimes, it is good to do something you usually don't do,” “Like walking around the city barefoot?” “Yup,” I popped the P, nodding my head.

"You can't wander around barefoot." I glanced down at my feet, having forgotten my barefooted state amidst my anger and jealousy. Blaise motioned to Tim, who was holding a box. Tim handed it to Blaise, revealing a pair of Alexander Wang's mule sandals. Blaise knelt down, gently placing my hand on his shoulder for support. My heart went into overdrive as he lifted my right foot, tenderly wiped the sole with his hand, and slid the sandal onto my foot. I felt like I was melting like wax. Blaise could be sweet when he wanted to be. He repeated the process for my left foot, and just as he stood up and I was about to offer him my heartfelt thanks, a voice called out his name from a distance.

I'd know the blue and white linenolum pattern anywhere. Dad rounded the corner clad in a Hawaiian shirt. "Mom got him this on our honeymoon," he said proudly. I smiled and hugged him. For a man of his wealth, he did not give a shit about brands or appearances. He was so excited when Crocs came out that he bought a pair in every color. "They are comfortable, cleanable and can't get smelly," he reasoned. I definitely didn't marry my dad. I saw the pair dad had gifted to Justin in our last Goodwill bag.

Cindy said to Amelia. "And who said that I can't participate in the competition without the shoes? Is that what the judges said? Or are you one of the judges?" Amelia asked Cindy with a furrowed brow. "Since the heel of my shoe is broken, I will go barefooted, and when the judges ask, I will tell them what happened," Amelia said to Cindy, who was taken aback by what Amelia had just said. Even the other participants didn't believe their ears when they heard Amelia say that she was going to participate in the competition barefooted.

Boots firm. Spine aligned. Eyes forward. Not running. Not hiding. Not chasing. Just walking. Fully aware of the weight she carries. And fully capable of carrying it.