MOONLIGHT DANCE

The park in Lemuria, just down the street from the Abbey, has become my favorite place to stroll when sleep escapes me. The moon always shines and flowers, bushes, and trees along the paths always soothe my restless, churning mind, but last night I was not alone. As I stepped from the path to the center square the strains of Debusees’ Claire de Lune filtered from the trees and encircled me. There, partly hidden from view, were three violins and a cello playing my favorite song that stirred memories of a 17 year old girl dreaming of prince charming, marriage, and everlasting love. As I remembered that girl in another world my husband stepped out of the mist and slowly walked towards me. After over 50 years of marriage, two years of separation, and a heart covered with scar tissue my prince charming of so long ago reached out, took my hand, and we danced.
As he held me close and I laid my Face into his neck all the negative memories dropped away and I remembered only the joys. I remember the kisses that seemed to lock us together for an eternity, the joys of sex enjoyed with unbridled passion, and the intimacy of shared cigarettes and private jokes afterwards. The strains of "A slow boat to china" played as we continued to dance and we both cried as we remembered all the good times and none of the pain. But then, just as abruptly, he disappeared back into the mist. I returned home filled with emotions, wondering at the mystery of why we are given such passion when we are young but slowly erodes and is withheld from us as we get older when we could so completely appreciate it,. I trust the Universe but I just do not understand.