The curtains of the night sky opened up before them revealing the entourage of mystical light dancers floating on the currents of the solar wind. Like angels hair the wisps of light gently swayed back and forth pulling at the fabric of space, distorting the chaos of reality and presenting the order of fantasy. As each gazed up in complete wonder, the vision of the shared moment on the window ledge returned to their minds creating a mutual smile and warm sensation in their hearts.

The rays swirled round like a cyclone until it appeared; the face of the wolf they had both seen before. It tuned its head downward towards each of them, eyes of peace and tranquility shown forth piercing one another’s soul once again.


Sarah lost her footing for but a brief second while Rex also misplaced his step and yet again like a newly formed tradition the vision was lost to both. The aurora continued its show of brilliance, illuminating the night sky for all to see but the image of the wolf was only for the two lovers.

The music was already playing when she went through the door of the auditorium that held the winter dance. The room was decorated in many spiritual tapestries, banners and there was a large screen television affixed to one wall playing the videos of the songs emanating from the sound system. She found her way to the bar and ordered a glass of wine to settle her down. The music playing took her back to her teenage years when life was care free and unencumbered with the pressures she now must deal with.

She looked down at her foot tapping the floor and wondered when that started as she smirked at herself. A young man from across the bar walked over to her and said that it’s better to tap one’s feet out on the dance floor instead of at the bar. He held out his hand for her to accompany him out on to the proverbial rug yet to be cut. “Oh no I can’t” she tried to convince the young man but he would not take no for an answer and gently removed her glass from her hand and guided her out on to the floor.

Surprised to find herself out there amongst complete strangers she could not help but let her hair down a little and besides that the young man was a pretty good dancing partner and kind of cute to she thought to herself. A few songs went by and then a slow song started and that was her queue to excuse herself from the company of the polite gentlemanly youth. Back at the bar she hid herself behind the glass of wine sipping slowly as though making the one glass last the entire night.

Where was Nick she thought? Would he show up or was she abandoned again?
She walked the room looking at the wall coverings as though judging them for some imaginary contest the whole time wondering about Nick. With empty glass in hand she returned to the bar as another nostalgic quick dance song lit up the big screen. She glanced over to the young man and he caught her looking. He smiled and said “shall we”? With nothing better to do then to circle the room again she agreed. They danced to two more songs when the DJ announced that it was now time to play some traditional songs. A sigh could be heard coming from the younger crowd; she chuckled a little bit as she thought of her kids. The music started to play and before she turn to leave the dance floor she felt Nicks arms encompass her. She took in the smell of his cologne and leaned back against his chest. She wrapped her arms around his as the music caused them to sway back and forth while turning ever so slowly to the beat of the drums. He kissed the back portion of the top of her head.

They pulled closer and closer as the song carried forth until the song slowed and almost came to a stop. Nick turned Sarah around and the music picked up its pace again slowly at first then stronger until it was back at full strength. He stared into her eyes more deeply then he should have perhaps for during these seconds he had come to realize that he was falling for her. Gently brushing her hair back exposing the feather arrangements he started to speak “Sarah, I think I’m” She stopped him abruptly and the turned her head in shame. “What’ wrong” once again he tried to speak but she just held her hand up as though to signal stop and with that she ran out of the auditorium. Nick puzzled and confused heard a voice from behind him say “Way to go Romeo” more puzzled then before he ignored the comment and went out after her. He pushed open the door and hurried through the opening. His eyes searched the parking area for any sign of her but none were visible. “Sarah” he called out. “Sarah, talk to me” he pleaded. No replies to his call could be heard. He plotted a search pattern in his mind thinking she could not have gone far. As he passed a shed he heard faint sobs coming from the back of it.

He paused, waiting for a second or two before shuffling his feet to alert her he was coming around the corner giving her time to compose herself. “Please leave me alone” she said. “No; not like this. Tell me what is wrong” he asked before coming into view.

“Everything” she whispered. He sat down at her side placing his arm around her shoulders pulling her closer to him. “Tell me everything my friend”. “Sure it’s easy for you. You will go home to your wife like nothing has happened and I will go home to a man that doesn’t even know I exist until something goes wrong and then he will make sure I know about it.” “I’m expected to hold true to family tradition and love the man I can’t stand to be near. I’m expected to endure his verbal abuse and suffer in silence as my children hold up their arms for a hug from mommy”. “I am reassured time and time again by friends and loved ones that it will pass and all will be forgiven. Well yammit I cannot forgive anymore. Not him for pushing me to this point and most certainly not myself for allowing this to happen. You have no idea how I must keep up appearances for the sake of my family, always reminding myself that it is my fault that this went wrong and that it is my fault that that went wrong. I finally have a chance to do something not only for myself but to better my family, to lead by example and show my children that an education is worth the effort and worth the time to pursue but no, the man who vowed to love, honor and cherish me stands in my way rather than behind me.”

“That is what I get to go home to”. “Don’t misunderstand me. I love my children with all my heart and soul for that is the only way I know how to love someone including him. For that I get kicked in the teeth repeatedly.”

With the words still ringing in his mind he pulled her closer and again he gave her a kiss on the top of her head. Sarah sobbed for a while, purging her pent up frustration just a little.

Nick started to speak not knowing where to begin but beginning none the less” I have some idea of what you are telling me. I got married the first time at age nineteen to a woman who was six months pregnant. She used to live with her parents, avid church goers and there was no way she could have a child out of wedlock. A son was born to us and I was granted the privilege to raise him from three months old to fifteen months of age when I went back to work. If you care to swap diaper stories he chuckled I’ve got a hamper full of them, talk about your rainbow coloured wall paper. If you want to discuss sleeping or the lack there of habits the coffee pot is on. If you want reminisce about the feeding patterns, household chores, lonely days with no adult to talk to, errands and the ever popular honey when’s dinner ready while doing the laundry I’m your man. If you wish to spin tales of the first time your child smiles, stands up in their crib or play pen, walks a few steps on their own, speaks your name and laughs at your jokes that make no sense to the child but they laugh anyway well then, here I am”.

“I look back at those days, those precious few years and thank my lucky stars for having that opportunity.”

“If you want to talk about sacrifice for the sake of the family or more over for the sake of your child I’ve got one for that to.”

“I’ve have placed my heart on my sleeve many a time and have seen it stomped on but I refuse to shelter it like a caged entity. If it cannot beat free it is no longer beating but merely pumping fluid.”

“I’ve never had a friend that could understand these emotions. Just how deep they cut or how they do not heal but rather just remain dormant until pulled upon when they again bleed’.

“I will go home to a wife who last year gave me my birthday present five days early because she could not remember the day. I thanked her and when she asked why I was not opening the present. I told her I would on my birthday. Now I understand that this day only happens once a year and is easily misplaced, I mean after all it’s not garbage day that happens every week and a mental note is all that is required for that. So this year for my birthday I’m going out to Vancouver to spend some time with family and to spend some time for myself.”

“I see now why you left the dance floor. I should have listened to your eyes and not to my heart so much”. “Can you forgive me”? He asked.

She placed her arm up around his neck and answered him with a hug.

“So what do we do know” She asked?
“What any good friends would do, we help each other figure this out”. He said

“Stand up. We need a walk”. He said.
“Potty first” she said laughing slightly. “My face is a mess”.

As she headed for the restroom he could not help himself. He watched her beautiful form glowing in the light of the full moon reflecting off the snow. He now saw her as the warrior woman she displayed the night before, courageous in all her glory and he could not help but fall even harder for her but he would keep that to himself.

While she was inside freshening up Nick heard the call of a lone wolf coming from the far distance. Far too far away to glimpse the creature but it did draw his attention to the moon, the full face staring down at him and reminding him of a troubled life. He also spied two nearby stars, one on either side of the moon and he stared intently at these seemingly wise stars as though they held a clue for him. What? He thought to himself, review he thought, two stars looking down at him and the full face of the moon. Think dummy he thought harder. Two…why two….I get the full face of the moon…..face my troubles….but why two stars….The two of us he thought…..could that be it…..the two of us facing our own problems alone and yet together he thought. Was she brought into his life for some reason and was he brought into hers for another. Unsure of the answers but feeling as though he was getting closer to the answer he turned his attention back to the auditorium and found Sarah standing inside talking with Foxtails wife.

He watched her intently as she spoke, hers eyes heavy from life’s wear and tear on her. Eyes battered and sore but carrying with them a real woman charm, not fake or pretentious but pure. They had this take me as I am look and anyone who could find that in her eyes was a lucky person indeed. He became entranced in her beauty, so down to earth and true to herself, how he had longed for such a woman, a real woman and now that he was at the door step of a special friendship with her, one that would allow them to speak freely on any subject knowing that the other was listening and even understanding not out of duty but out of desire to know more, to become absorbed into the others life.

He sighed as he watched her through the window. She was out of his league, who was he kidding? We can and will be good friends, even special or best friends but that is what he would need to accept. He smiled at her as she glanced his way and then she said goodnight to her friend inside.

When she came out he gave her a hug and not actually one for her but for himself instead. ”What was that for”? She inquired. “I needed that” he said breaking a chuckle.
“Would you rather go for a ride then a walk”? He asked.
“I’ve never drove a snowmobile” she said. “No sweet heart, a horse ride. Snow mobiles are too noisy and the helmet prevents us from talking.” He replied.