Cracks in the Sidewalk

Once she stopped focusing on the cracks on the sidewalk, 

she looked up and realised that the sun had always been shining. 

She did not know when it happened but there came a time 

where she lost the confidence to keep her head up.

Instead, she began tracking the movement of her feet 

as she moved through life.

Focusing on her feet caused her to see the flaws in her walk. 

The veins in her feet. How crooked the third toe on her left foot actually was. 

And how dirty her white all stars were. 

She forgot what it felt like to lift up her face to the sky. 

She forgot what it felt like to gaze at the blue sky and lose track of time.

Her imagination and creativity had dwindled, 

because all she saw was the rhythm of her steps, 

the dirt on the side of the road and withered flowers resting on the pavement. 

Not much to write about when all you’re focusing on is the cracks on the sidewalk.

At first she tried to hop and skip around them, but it got tiring. 

Trying to avoid them seemed like a futile exercise, 

so she decided to get used to the anxiety she’d feel 

every time she thought she was breaking her mother’s back. 

Every time she came across an imperfection, a mistake, 

places where the sidewalk had decided that it wasn’t 

made of the right stuff to stick together.

Weeds were growing in the cracks 

and insects can make a home anywhere.

She realised something that caused 

the raising of her chin to the open skies.

Even in the cracks.

Even in the dark places.

Even in the places of brokenness.

The rays of the sun will always find their way there and create growth. 

They will always create beauty, even when it was meant to break someone’s back. 

Once she stopped focusing on the cracks on the sidewalk, 

she looked up and realised that the sun had always been shining.