When nobody is home
She sneaks into the organized, spacious closet
To try on her mother’s shoes.
Beautiful heels rest on special wooden shelves.
While only a few pairs would be ample, dozens among dozens pose like
Royalty on the rack.

All she wants is to grow up.
Live the adult life,
Where she is in control
Of her every move.
In her mom’s heels she experiences that freedom.
The tall, formal, black and red shoes make her feel
Liberated.

She has power wearing the heels, but with this empowerment
Comes an uneasiness that overwhelms her.
The shoes do not fit yet,
They are still many sizes too big.
She struggles to walk,
And the heels make her feet ache.

She still stomps around.

Tripping over herself,
She is oblivious to the weight she will carry.
A weight she can’t handle,
Yet.