Recently, I came to the most shocking and disheartening realization of my high school career: I had lost my Adidas Superstars. I searched high and low for them, scouring the corners of my bedroom, the locker room at school, my backpack and even my family’s cars. It was absolutely unbelievable that I, a generally responsible (if not somewhat scatterbrained) individual, could lose my most prized possession. I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d worn them, but as soon as I realized they were gone, I knew I wanted them back.

For those of you who don’t know, Adidas Superstars are a unique variety of Adidas casual shoes. The OG design is a pure white pleather base accented with the iconic Adidas logo, three bold black stripes. The Adidas logo is also present on the tongue of the shoe, where it is embossed in shiny gold. These beautiful fresh kicks are worthy of the gods. They were first marketed as basketball shoes in 1969 and quickly gained popularity among NBA players. Then they made the transition from court to street, gracing the feet of stylish demigods (and goddesses) like Rita Ora, Gigi Hadid, Emma Stone and many others. As in most trickle-down economic theories, it was inevitable this trend would reach the plebian masses (read: me.) After months of pining after the shoes on Pinterest, I decided to request the Superstars for Christmas. On Christmas day, they were the pièce de résistance. I couldn’t wait to slip them on my feet and strut around Johns Creek shopping plazas like Kendall Jenner. And as soon as I worked up the courage, I did exactly that. I took a bold step, literally and figuratively, on the first day of second semester as I made my debut in my glistening white Adidas Superstars. It felt like a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie: teachers ogling my feet, classmates turning green with pure jealousy, my hair blowing in the nonexistent breeze. I was a superstar.

Then came the downfall. At approximately 11:30 that same day, I saw a girl wearing the same pair of shoes. This wasn’t possible. I was supposed to be the only one with these fresh kicks! She was completely cramping my style game. The shoes instantly lost about 50 percent of their appeal. But I remained faithful to my vision of a brighter future, one filled with fashionable outfits made complete by my Adidas Superstars.

Over the next couple of months, I saw the shoes appearing more and more often on the feet of my classmates. I didn’t mind too much because I knew I had been their sole inspiration. (No pun intended.) I found that the Superstars blended seamlessly into my wardrobe, complementing just about any outfit I threw together. They were comfortable, versatile, and beautiful. Even when they began to discolor with the impurity of the world, my love for them grew.

Then March rolled around. I did a lot of traveling that month, and I opted not to bring my Superstars on most trips for fear that I would lose or damage them. As the days got longer and warmer, I found myself wearing sandals more often and neglecting those beautiful Superstars. I most likely wore them for the last time in late March. I don’t remember exactly when or where. All I can remember is that awful moment when reality dawned on me in mid-April, and I realized that I hadn’t seen or worn my Superstars for a few weeks. How could this travesty occur? How could I abandon my pride and joy, the shoes that I loved more than a child? I left them somewhere out there in the cold heartless world, and I will never be able to forgive myself.

Over a month has passed since this disheartening revelation occurred. I have resorted to wearing godforsaken Nikes and Converse in an attempt to fill the hole left in my heart by the disappearance of my Superstars. I have no one to blame but myself for this pure negligence. The feeling of loss is more acute than the pain one experiences after the death of a beloved pet fish. It is indescribable.

The Adidas Superstars blessed me with a sense of pride and joy. No one can truly know the definition of love until they have taken a stroll in some Superstars. I am only now beginning to pick up the pieces from this catastrophe. But the strength of the Superstars is eternal, and I know it remains with me, guiding me every step of the way toward my beloved Adidas.