Most days we carry on like zombies through our daily routines. The details blur from day to day as they all seem to blend together…

I didn’t notice the shoe on my on my front steps when I came home from work that evening. I got out of my car and walked up the steps as usual, tired from work. I passed the shoe without consequence. I dropped my stuff and plopped down on the couch to veg out the rest of the evening. I didn’t notice the shoe for three days. Like I said, we are zombies or at least I am.

On the third day it caught my eye. I don’t know why? Maybe the wind, or the shifting of the light? Maybe for once I shifted my gaze as I stomped up my steps?

There it was, a dirty gray and blue women’s running shoe. An old running shoe, well worn, and only the left one. I thought somebody put their trash on my steps, or better yet, someone found it in the street and thought it was mine. It was gross. So I threw it in my trash can at the side of the house. It wasn’t mine and it probably had some foot fungus for all I knew.

I forgot about the shoe. One week later there was another shoe on my steps when I came home. It was a purple and black running shoe. This shoe was newer than the last, but still used. Again, it was only the left shoe. This time though the gray snd blue shoe was sitting on the first step, while the purple and black shoe was sitting just above it on the second.

The hair on my arms stood up and I looked around. The street was empty. I went to the street to look for the other shoes. No right shoes in sight. I went to my neighbors and stupidly asked if the were missing any running shoes. They looked at me funny and told me they weren’t runners. I also asked if they’d seen anyone leave anything on my porch. They said they hadn’t been home all day and had better things to do than spy on their neighbors shutting the door in my face. I never said they were nice neighbors.

I didn’t know what to do with the shoes. The fact that the gray one was back and had a mismatched friend was a little disconcerting. I brought them inside and threw them in the corner of my laundry room.

I had a hard time concentrating on anything else the rest of the night. In the end, I convinced myself it was neighborhood kids finding trash in the woods and playing a stupid prank. I eventually fell asleep dreaming of dancing running shoes.

In the morning I put the shoes in my car. I thought I would stop by the local police station after work and just let them know that kids were leaving random sneakers on my steps, which sounded really dumb out loud.

I didn’t feel any better after talking to the police. They basically confirmed it was what I thought, kids playing a prank. They said, nothing to fret over. When I got home they was another shoe…

I took the third shoe in checking all the windows and doors, including all the rooms and closets in the house. I didn’t sleep the rest of the night.

I went back to the police station the next day. They said I was over-reacting but, would send a car through the neighborhood to try to deter the kids from pranking people. “You know kids will be kids.”

I went to work and tried to forget about the shoes. Could you? It was impossible. All I could think about was the three of them in my laundry room.

As I pulled in my driveway I focused on the front steps. On the fourth step I could see a running shoe. I braked and froze. I thought, why!? Why me? Why shoes? Who is doing this? I placed the car in park and got out. I looked around feeling the wind push at the back of my head. I walked slowly to the shoe. This time the running shoe was white and silver. It was also stained dark red. I ran back to my car, locked the doors, and went straight to the police station.

After looking over the latest shoe, the police asked me to bring back the other three. I told them I would prefer it if they would come back to the house with me to get the shoes. They thought that might not be a terrible idea. So, they escorted me home.

The police looked around a bit and took the other shoes saying they were going to look into the missing right shoes. They told me if I found anymore shoes on my steps to contact them asap. They handed me a business card with the main line to the police station and left me standing on my front porch.

I had asked the police if they thought it was safe for me to stay at my house. They said probably, but to keep an eye out for strangers around the property. They had asked if I was a runner and if I had any personal running shoes in the house. I told them no to both questions. They said, you are probably fine.

A week went by and no shoes. Whoever it was must have seen the police at my house and been spooked. Then, as I was watching the news Friday evening I caught a breaking story about four young women found murdered in the woods. They were all wearing running clothes and shoes, except for the left sneaker.

I freaked! In the next sentence the news woman stated the police had made an arrest and believed they had the suspect responsible for the gruesome murders in custody. I felt a little relieved, yet still terrified about the whole thing.

I sold the house and moved. I could tell you I feel better knowing the monster was caught, that I’m not living in that house anymore and that the whole thing is long over. It’s been three years since I moved.

Upon arriving home from work tonight I found a pink child’s size shoe on the first step of my front porch…it was a left shoe.