Passion transformed to Compassion

I recently had knee surgery, and through it all, X has come through for me.  Spent day at hospital during surgery, bringing me ice, emptying my garbage and bringing me milk and Oreo cookies.  :)   Thinking back 30+ years ago to the heat of passion we experienced as young adults and not wanting to be apart one second to where we are now.  Hard to pick a category for this.  Where once was hot and seemingly endless passion there is now simply compassion between us.  I can only compare it to a farmer putting his favorite horse out to pasture.  What once was strong and alive is now to be pitied.  Through all the love and heartache X and I still care greatly about each other and the love that is there between us is real and immovable; like dust on an old bottle of wine.  Underneath the film is a foundation for love that no person can remove.  I still don't understand why this OW had to come between us only to be pushed aside by X as used garbage in an alley.  I still pray for X every day as though he still belonged to me. Moving on to a new mate seems futile and a waste of time and energy I would rather be spending on my X.  I can only try to move on and find a different love but none the less love to help my heart heal and transform into something new.