letting people in without shoes
‘is this a shoes-off house’ your new friend asked as he stepped inside for the first time. you froze, unsure how to respond.
you invited him over for drinks. an older guy, but well-rounded and kind. he'd been your neighbor for nearly a year, but you'd never really talked beyond quick exchanges over the fence.
what made you finally invite someone into your home. was it him, was it you.
you’d made excuses to yourself about not having people over - your house wasn’t ready, you weren’t ready, you didn’t want to offend other people in town by not inviting them too.
in the end, you shot him a text with an invite. he responded enthusiastically. you were uncomfortable, but exhilarated - a chance to feel like a grown-up in a place where you often feel small. observed.
as you tidied the house over the few days before he was to come over, you wondered what compelled you to suddenly drop all the excuses. it wasn’t about loneliness or even connection.
just a guy you got along with, someone you had a few things in common with. you decided not to overthink it.
‘is this a shoes-off house.’ your hesitation. he noticed, told you he doesn’t wear shoes at home. you let out the breath you didn’t know you’d been holding and said you’d appreciate that.
as he took off his shoes, you asked why - he said he lived in asia and kept the habit - you smiled. the chill in your chest lifted. ‘me too.’