Feet

“Close your eyes” He said almost in a whisper as I began to protest with all my might. I just couldn’t do it. Each step was as unsure as the one before it and I felt as though I was an infant introduced to taking the first steps, clutching at every reachable piece of furniture and stumbling over my own feet, hesitant and naïve. His feet were swift and I kept getting in the way and apologizing for it profusely.

“Shush. Just close your eyes and shut your mouth” His voice was calm, reassuring and stern. There was no room for protest. I obliged. I squeezed my eyes shut and let his body guide mine. One, two, three, one, two three. The steady rhythm was not alien to me but it seemed to be miles away. I recited the familiar chant inside my head which was a part of the balanced pace that I knew, had I followed properly would take me where I wanted to go.

His strides were as long and graceful as mine were unsteady and uneven. I didn’t dare open my eyes for fear of looking into his eyes which I knew were bearing down onto my sweat stained face.

Determination. I saw in his face of which I had a clear picture drawn in my mind’s eye. He was determined to see me go through with this. I heard complete silence except for the sound of our feet rushing past columns of air. I saw nothing but darkness. I felt us move. One, two, three, One, two three.

I know not for how long we moved. Stillness followed the silence.

“There. All you need to do is close your eyes and follow my voice” And I did. Always, since then.