The Wedding Shoes Worth Keeping

Before their small wedding, Ruth and Ellis compared their plans with the money they had set aside. Most choices were straightforward. They wanted a simple meal, a short guest list and music played by a friend. Then Ruth showed Ellis a pair of expensive shoes.

She expected him to object. Instead, he asked why she liked them. They were comfortable, well made and suitable for work as well as the wedding. Ruth had tried several cheaper pairs, but all hurt after a few minutes. She also genuinely loved the colour.

Together, they looked for something in the plans that mattered less to both of them. Printed table decorations were the easiest choice. They removed those from the order and checked that the revised total fitted the amount they had agreed to spend. The shoes were not a prize for being sensible elsewhere; they were simply a choice made openly.

At the wedding, Ruth danced until the final song. A guest admired the shoes and asked whether they would sit in a box afterwards. Ruth lifted her skirt slightly to show a small scuff near the heel. 'Too late for that,' she said. On Monday, she wore them to work with ordinary trousers, carrying a little of the celebration into an otherwise ordinary morning.