When I was 9 years old I bought my first pair

Those Under Armours with the white and black

They were my very first pair of volleyball shoes

Those new kicks I couldn’t wait to showcase on the court

I began playing just for fun 

Until that fun turned into my favorite thing to do

As I grew up, my shoe collection did as well

Next were the Adidas 

All black with a white sole

They fit me perfectly as I played for my first club team

My favorite thing to do turned into passion

Slamming the ball down on the court became an escape

Made some good friends that I got to practice with multiple times a week

I loved tournaments at this age

Next were the black Nikes 

With a big shiny check mark on the side

These were a snug fit that fit perfectly

I started getting more serious with the sport

That passion turned into love

I made my first national travel team

I had the best coaches this year

It was my favorite place I’ve ever tried out for

I would be travelling to states I’ve never been to 

Playing with the best team I’ve had

That year for christmas I got the Hyperaces

All white to match the kneepads

I left the box untouched until my first tournament with the team

Our last practice before the tournament

My last time wearing those black Nikes

Turned into the worst day ever

A split second on the court 

Turned into a year of recovering 

Who knew that would be my last time wearing those black shoes 

Throughout the recovery all I wanted was to put those shoes on again

To go back to my favorite sport with my favorite team

When I finally got cleared a year later

I still had those white Hyperaces in that same box

Hoping one day I’d return to that sport I used to love

But that love turned into tears

As that same box sits in my closet

Unopened and untouched