The Shoebox

Past relationships are hidden...out of sight, out of mind. Like old clothes that you don't want to get rid of, yet you know you will never wear again. They hold some sort of nostalgia, because when you reminisce on a past relationship (unless it is a fresh wound) you usually only remember the good times. Rarely do we miss someone from the past and have the presence of mind to stop our longing and think of the reason (or many, many reasons) that we are no longer with that person. In my case, old boyfriends are relegated to "the shoebox." It is a very big shoebox. It used to house a pair of boots. Now it is home to every card, letter, and photo ever given to me from an ex-boyfriend. There will soon be an addition to the shoebox...a small velvet box with a ring inside. The fallacy is in thinking that the "things" in the box represent love. They, in fact, represent a warning...despite what someone can tell you with sugar coated words, a lovely smile, or a dozen roses, their actions ultimately speak their feelings. That is why I keep "the shoebox" to remind me of this truth.