Walking Practice

by Dolki Min

Ordinarily, I can incorporate the knowledge I have gathered, memorized, and internalized these past ten years without a hitch, but when I’m thrown off guard like before, I collapse like a sandcastle defenseless against the tide. Why can’t I blend in naturally with groups of humans? Won’t someone kindly share the secret? Can I become a human and receive love? Is that too much to ask for? Ah, it’s fine now. Please, don’t worry about it. Pay it no mind. You’ll all say that I don’t know what beat to follow, and if I’m crazy, I’m solidly crazy. But, dear reader, don’t you know it all too well? Know that if you aren’t crazy, at least once, there will come a time in your life when you simply cannot bear it. A time when it’s hard to tell exactly what trips your madness. I have some good news for you. I’ve safely made it through that time. As soon as the tides roll back, I can rebuild the sandcastle.