It was Tuesday. An uneventful Tuesday. I was sitting at my desk as usual, organizing spreadsheets. Black pencil skirt, bare legs, with my heels kicked off next to my chair. It’s not that the office is hot, but my feet feel cramped in shoes, so I usually take them off. I quite liked the new burgundy polish on my toenails. I lowered my right foot to shift my posture, and I felt something soft being pressed under my sole. Something very small, very subtle. I figured something had fallen on the office floor, but it didn't seem worth checking. But when I lifted my foot to cross my legs the other way, I felt something sticking to the center of my arch. Small, slightly damp, and tucked perfectly into the curve of my foot. It was a bit big for a piece of lint, but I brushed that off too. I focused on work all morning. Unconsciously, I curled and uncurled my toes, rocking my feet back and forth like a seesaw. It’s a habit. I always do that when looking at spreadsheets. Having something stuck in the middle of my sole actually felt strangely soothing. It felt like I was fiddling with a stress ball with my toes. I had to go to the printer for a moment, so I slipped my shoes back on. I felt something inside the right shoe, but after walking about ten steps and coming back, I kicked them off again. That thing was still stuck to the bottom of my foot. Warmer, and a bit stickier. Lunchtime. I checked my phone while eating a salad. I rested both feet on the edge of the chair, soles facing each other, occasionally rubbing my right sole with my left foot. It wasn't an itch; just a habit. 5:00 PM. This time, I definitely felt it. Something was in the arch of my right foot inside the shoe. I thought I'd stepped on something this morning, and it was still there. "Huh? I thought I stepped on something earlier... it's still here." I took off my shoe and looked at the center of my arch. I carefully peeled it off with two fingers. The moment I held it in my palm and looked, my breath caught. It was a person. A tiny man, about three inches tall. He was trembling. His whole body was marked red with the print of my sole, and he was drenched in sweat. My eyes widened. "...Is that you?" He spoke in a cracked voice. "I shrunk... this morning... I tried to get your attention... but you stepped on me..." I was stunned for a moment. So... I had been carrying this person under my foot all day. Kneading him with my toes, walking with him inside my shoe, and rubbing him between my feet. I felt sorry. Truly. But. To be honest. It was a little funny. "My goodness. I've been using you as a foot toy all day." I lifted him close to my face. "I'm so sorry." I did feel bad. But I couldn't help the corners of my mouth curling up. "But... you really do make a good insole." I looked around the empty office. "Let's do this. I'll take you home and figure out how to change you back." I placed him back right in the center of my arch. I pressed down slightly. Not enough to crush him, but enough to keep him secure. "But for tonight... stay right here until we get to the car."