The tires rumbled across the macadam roadways, carrying the Jeep and its occupants along their journey. After leaving work that day, they were headed for nowhere in particular. They would have to begrudgingly go home at some point, but for now it was all about the wind blowing away their cares and their heavy burdens. No steel or glass between them and the nature around them, rushing past. The shoulder of the road passing quickly beneath their feet was mesmerizing.

There used to be music blasting on these trips. The louder, the better. Hard music with screaming and drum beats to shake the earth. That was when there was anger still brewing. Anger at the situation she couldn’t control. Anger at the lack of support, and the unreasonable expectations. It was a fire burning deep down inside of her that demanded to be let out.

Today, there was no screaming music, no fire raging beneath the surface. It was defeat that lived there now. Turn after random turn, the wind had nothing left to fight against. The thrum of the tires reverberated around emptiness. She needed to connect again, to reminder herself of what was important.

Thea nudged Kai with her elbow. No response. She nudged again, harder, knocking their elbow completely off the center console. Kai slowly looked over with a strained smile on their face. It was something; not the deep, full-faced smile she loved to see. But it was something. She just needed to pull a little harder.

“What’s your favorite memory?” Thea asked. She’d seen some suggested questions for couples while doom scrolling at lunch, and this was the first one she’d remembered. Kai sat in silence for a long while, staring blankly at the passing scenery. Maybe her question hadn’t registered over the noise of the wind and tires. Or maybe Kai was just thinking; she needed to wait a little longer. Just as she was about to ask her question again, Kai looked back at her with a sad look on her face.

“I have such a hard time remembering the good,” they said finally. It was very true; the bad memories took such a hold in their mind, they would often be the only ones to come up on their own. The good ones were in there, a whole sea of them to pull from, far more numerous than the bad floating on top. “Tell me your favorite memory, and maybe it’ll spark one for me,” they said.

“Mmmm,” Thea thought out loud. So many good memories to choose from. They’d been together for so many years, and Kai brought such happiness to Thea’s life. From the very first time they chatted online, it was an instant connection. So many similarities and common interests; but Kai was also fascinating in so many ways. It made the first half of her life feel like such a far-away and foreign thing; like a different reality, completely unrelated to this one.

But what would be her favorite memory? There was that time they rented an off-grid cabin deep in the mountains for a weekend. No dogs, no schedule, no cell service. Just a bed, a heater, and an absolutely amazing view. Or would it be the trip to see both of their favorite musician? They had spent a lot of money on those tickets and ended up a dozen feet away as the whole arena sang every song together. Or maybe the trip into the mountains to watch the sun rise from an overlook. They’d just made random turns from there, and ended up at a surprise waterfall, and a rhododendron garden on the top of a mountain straddling the state border. The unexpected discoveries was always a recipe for success with them.

“Great Falls,” Kai said unexpectedly. Unprompted, they had found the sea! Thea beamed inside. “I like to travel with you,” they continued. “I love experience new and awe-inspiring places next to you. But we did not expect… that.”

It was very true. It was a birthday trip for Kai that took them north to visit a national park. They had stopped at a random rest stop on the way up, to stretch legs and let the dog outside. Kai had been wrapped up inspecting an old iron bridge that had been put on display at the rest stop. Their dog had taken Thea past an old weathered sign highlighting some of the attractions in the area they were headed to. The national park was on there, and a few other forgettable places as well. But the little square for some place called Great Falls caught her attention.

The next day, after they had gotten settled in to their camp spot, Thea suggested that they go check this park out. It wasn’t too far away, and they didn’t have anything planned that day, so they packed up and headed out for an adventure. The parking lot was bigger than expected, and a flat paved trail lead towards a rather unassuming building next to the river. It looked like a nice riverside park, but nothing to really remark about. It seemed like they had brought their cameras along for nothing.

But as they walked past the visitor’s center, along the paved trail, they were not prepared for what they were seeing. Granite boulders of epic proportions, holding their own against the raging river. The torrentuous water throwing itself against, over, and around house-sized stone. Slowly, the river narrowed, and deepened. The rock grew higher above the water, butting up shoulder to shoulder, to control the water through a deep and clear gorge. They spent absolute hours in the place, awe-struck. The little sign at the rest stop had most definitely not done this place justice.

They spent the next day at the national park. as planned. It was a nice park, with gorgeous views, similar to their favorite places at home. They stopped by the gift shops and bought some trinkets with the park logo on it. It was intended to be the main show of that trip, but it had absolutely no chance, coming after the wonderful surprise of the previous day. The surprises always make for the best trips.

Kai and Thea discussed their favorite parts of that trip over the next hour. The wind that had just been tossing their empty husks around, now lifted their spirits and carried them further on and higher up. Their smiles were genuine again, and their laughter deep and hearty. Things in their world were not going well for them, that had not changed, but they no longer cared. They were together, and together they would face anything and find a way through. Together is all that mattered.

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