FOOTSTEPS OF DOUBT
Outside
The sun shining so bright and
blinding my eyes
The large palm trees
swaying
The asphalt toasting
The asphalt full of cracks
What would happen if my foot
touched the cracks?
Will the Earth crumble to
its death?
Does that mean I will die with
the Earth?
“Mom! We need to fill
in the cracks in our driveway”
“Sweetie we can’t do that”
She doesn’t understand.
She won’t ever understand.
What would happen if my foot
touched the cracks?
Maybe if I step on it I could
prove her wrong.
Outside
The sun shining so bright and
blinding my eyes
The large palm trees
swaying
The asphalt toasting
The asphalt full of cracks
1...2...3..
People probably think I look so stupid
with my one foot in the air.
What would happen if my foot
touched the cracks?
Could this decide my whole future?
She puts her foot down
On the smooth asphalt
She was too scared to take that risk
For she would rather say your were right mom Then nothing at all
aANYA MEHTA
In sharing this experience, I speak from my own perspective, tracing the origins of my anxiety back to this specific moment—the cracks in the asphalt. This memory, planted the seed of fear within me, shaping my thoughts and actions thereafter. Reflecting on this event allows me to understand the roots of my anxiety and its enduring impact on my life.