Midnight Blues

They used to spend hours in the car. Driving through the foothills and canyons near their home. Windows down moon roof open and classic jazz on the stereo.

Some nights they drove until dawn. Discussing life. Discussing love. Following the paths opened by their hearts. Comfortable in what they had in common. Embracing the diversity of their differences.

Sometimes tears would mix with the sound of laughter. Sometimes their souls soared, entwined moving to the ancient music of the stars. Sometimes silence embraced them with the warmth of an old comforter.

The stars were their compass and love was their guide.

In the days leading up to the birth of their child there drives became shorter, closer to home.

Driving to Lamaze class one evening they happened upon a small field with a pregnant mare. They pulled over for a closer look. As they approached the fence the mare watched them with wary eyes, until finally she turned her back and continued grazing.

Returning to the car he placed his hand on the life growing inside her. Still amazed at the miracle that was developing before their eyes.

The mare became somewhat of a touchstone for them. They visited daily and she eventually became comfortable enough to walk up to the fence and nuzzle their hands. Sometimes they would bring sugar cubes or a carrot for her to nibble.

On the night she went into labor they drove by the field and saw that their mare had given birth herself since their last visit. A young colt was following his mother around the field. Soon they would be holding their own miracle in their arms.

A few days after the birth of the baby they brought him to see the mare and her colt. The two mothers admired each other's handiwork, proud parents through and through.

The drives continued but not as often with the reasonability of a new life they tended to stay home more. At least once a week though they would go visit the horses.

One Saturday morning they pulled their car over near the fence and were distraught to find their horses were gone. A realty sign announced the sale of the property and apparently the horses had left with the previous owners.

The empty field seemed to foretell future events. The honeymoon was over and reality began to sink in. What they once shared slowly became foreign to them. He began going to bed later. She began going to be at sunset.

Dreams and hopes were no longer shared. For reasons that neither one understand they were drifting apart. What they once held in common now seemed to drive a wedge between them.

He loved the outdoors. She wanted to go clubbing.

He still loved moonlit drives. She wanted to watch her soaps.

He wanted a home cooked meal. She began eating out of the microwave.

Even their beautiful boy who should have been the glue to make their bond permanent became a tool. He has too many toys. He doesn't have enough toys. He is to dirty. He's a boy he should be dirty. On and on it went.

Nobodies fault really. As it often happens when hormones are far ahead of maturity. The foundation of a relationship cannot always handle the strains of growth.

Eventually they had drifted so far apart that they agreed to disagree and they went their separate ways.

After the divorce their relationship actually improved. Without the weight of marriage they became friends again and partners in the raising of their son.

The world continued to turn and before long they each found love with another. Neither let their new marriage destroy the friendship that had grown from the seeds of their lost love.

One evening he was driving her and their son home from a Karate tournament they happened to pass by the field where their horse had lived. Pulling over they shared with him the story of her pregnancy, his birth and how they used to visit the horse.

To their dismay the farm was abandoned and the stable was choked with weeds. The beauty that had once occupied this piece of land had been lost and no one had come along to restore the lot to what it once was.

As they drove away he took her hand in his as if to say that unlike the owners of the stable we may have abandoned our marriage but we saved our friendship and we are building a future for our son.