We departed San Francisco shortly before midnight. Our destination was Santa Barbara, a salty little town five hours down. We had been in an argument, leaving us with unexpected quiet. As we crawled out of the bay area traffic, I saw only passing beams and anger. She drove half way as the headlights turned to hills.
My eyes have a genetic talent for finding the eyes of legged and fury things. It has always been a passion. Back home, I’m always pointing. Did you see the antelope? They always shake their head.
Before we switched I had been watching the exotic horizon. The moon shone bright and the dark rolling mountains were simple to see. They came to either side of the road, and yet the map of my mind knew that just over one horizon lay the ocean, and over the other, the desert. The massive hills saw me. Their backs bare and dark blue. Like those of whales in the deep, with the occasional tree like a parasitic fish. They discovered me and swam on, unafraid.
When I drove the fog would come and go, with the ocean near again. I would weave across the empty lanes and over the shoulder’s edge, looking for the swimming beasts. Driving through unknown land at night is like watching what creatures must dream. Instead of information, there is sensation, mystery, and the strangest silent music. I looked at her looking. Quiet out the window, my chest softer for her. I peeked upward myself and saw the eternal little sparkles.
A day later we sat in the car at sundown. She looked at the water without stopping. I told her the ocean scared me after more than a few seconds, like the sun. I continually turned away, haunted and obsessed. Look, she said, dolphins. I looked as best I could. I can’t see them. I shook my head as she pointed.
The next day we drove back to the Bay, the land lit and truly golden. I could see further, but felt lesser of it all. Until we’d be under alien trees and redwoods. I would wonder what they wished while she’d beat the wheel with musical hands. It was dark when we reached the city. The trip back had been loud and smiling. The moon was gone, and the night was opened and black. And again, we beheld the stars.