the wonder and beauty of Sacrifice

I stand here staring
at this image frozen in time

the drunkard aiming the gun
pointing at the woman,
the innocence whose name unbeknownst to me
screaming, her terrified expression stuck

and the bullet
that one single devastating creation of man

I walk from the man to the woman
following the path of the bullet

her stomach
it will penetrate her stomach,
her bodily organs
she will die, painfully

this will hurt
but it must be done

I stand in front of her
gazing into her eyes
beautiful beyond the terrified expression
beautiful even with the terrified expression
the beauty not just physical
but the soulful beauty within her essence
makes the pain easier to endure

I step behind this amazing creature
so strong, so brave
whom will grow to do wondrous things
and sink my claws into her shoulder blades

her blood pours onto my hands
dark, deep
but the pain that I leave with her
is nothing, will be nothing
for that which it could have been

my soul moves close to her
moves into her
my being filling every inch of her body
until we are one

my wings protrude from the wounds on her back
just as life starts again

the man's eyes wild with anger
the woman's scream pierces the air
and the bullet pierces us
though as it passes through her, unharmed
it buries itself deep within me

my eyes begin to water from the pain
yet I smile, for she lives

the man drops his gun
as he sees my wings along her body
he thinks a miracle, an angel
and then they are gone as I fall to my knees
invisible
and I clatter to the ground just as the gun

I cry now
not from the pain
no the pain had to be felt
even though unbearable
no, I cry now
from the wonder and beauty of Sacrifice