we think of women as angels, glimmering spirits bearing messages from heaven
bound by virtue and graced with decadent wings, marked by luminous halos that shone them as divine among mortal.
we have forgotten the sharpened swords strapped at their sides. we have neglected to remember how their illuminance was enough to blind men for days. the angels were the celestial warriors, clad in armor to do battle with the infernal offspring of hades.
we forget that in scripture, their first words to humanity were always 'do not be afraid'
because angels were meant to be feared.