Tonight’s prompt, courtesy of our fearless leader, Katharine:

Find an object — not a photo or a letter, but something less obvious — that you’ve kept for years or decades because it reminds you of an event or person from your past every time you see it. Maybe the kind of thing you just can’t give up or let go of, even if Marie Kondo (of decluttering fame) says you’ll always have the memory.

Then write about it and how it’s connected to that event or person, either as fiction — like a still life that you can project a rich story onto — or as nonfiction, going deeper into that memory, and perhaps why you can’t let it go. See where the memory takes you.

My take:

I can remember it like it was yesterday. There we were, just being together, with a kind of symbiotic relationship – him, some guy out jogging, and me, a serial killer. There was a natural give-and-take in our relationship. Anyway, the object is Ralph’s sneaker. I keep it in my closet with all the other trophies. But Ralph was special – he was my first. His sneaker is almost like the day he bought it, except of course for the bloodstains and chainsaw nicks. It’s a bright forest green, an expensive upper-end brand designed specifically for joggers — though I have to say, they could have done a little better with the traction. I remember him falling down a lot as I was chasing him. And let’s face it, even back then, I was no Bruce Jenner.

Every once in a while, I take Ralph’s sneaker out and relive that night – our first (and last) night together. I have to admit – Ralph taught me how to have fun. You would have liked Ralph. Admittedly, he kind of screamed a lot, but once you got past that, he was a nice guy. He even offered me his car keys and wallet. I mean, who would do that, right? His girlfriend was a little more uptight. I remember her shooting at me. Luckily, she wasn’t a good shot, and Ralph and I just laughed it off. Well, I did. Ralph just kept screaming. But you know, in the end, we all had a good time.

😉