It was one of those Spring nights that lets you know Summer is coming. Warm and breezy, you could smell the juniper trees and hear the soft sigh of the olive leaves as the wind whispered in through the open window. It was so peaceful and perfect, I found myself drowsing in my chair by the fire, nearly spilling the wine I had been drinking.

Checking that the door was locked, I left the windows open to cool the house as I crawled into bed. My love had left on business a few days ago and wouldn’t be back until his project was complete. He had wanted me to go with him, but I was looking forward to some time on my own. Sweet and doting though Joe was, I knew my time would fill up quickly once we were married, and I wanted to savor these months in between living as a single woman and living as a wife.

The sheets were cool as I climbed into bed, but they warmed up quickly. I snuggled against the pillow and quickly fell into a dreamless sleep to the music of the turtle doves that had nested outside the window.

I awoke suddenly, my heart pounding in my chest. I took a sharp breath and hissed out a panicked “Who’s there?!” Silence and darkness was my answer. What had woken me? I couldn’t remember any dreams in particular, just a warm, safe feeling that had shattered as I bolted upright in bed.

Why had I told Joe he could leave for two weeks? What had I been thinking? Here I am, a young woman, who’s not so bad looking they tell me, alone in a huge house in the middle of the night. 

That’s when I heard it, much more distinctly. A voice… or, five voices… were they chanting? They all seemed to be saying the same thing. I heard high pitched voices, and remembered hearing about the neighborhood kids playing pranks at night.

Emboldened by chagrin, but still sensible of danger, I grabbed Joe’s spare walking stick and walked through the house towards the sound. As I grew nearer, I saw a strange light through the back window. At first I feared the teens had set fire to the chicken coop, but the light was steady and bright, much more like daylight than fire.  Had I slept so long? 

Checking the front windows and finding them dark, I went against my better judgment and slowly walked towards the back door, wielding the staff like a shield. I took a breath and pushed the door open with the staff, willing my face into the most menacing expression I could muster.

Bright light made me temporarily blind as I stepped outside, squinting and shielding my face with my free arm. I opened my eyes and the light abated slightly. In the very center I saw… a man. I think. But this man was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, with great wings spreading from his shoulders across the garden. 

I fell to my knees, from joy or fear I know not which, and noticed his feet also had to smaller sets of wings. Wings that kept his feet from touching the earth, even as he walked towards me. I looked up to see his hand outstretched to me, and the kindest expression I’ve ever seen on his face. As I stood, he looked into my eyes and smiled. And when he spoke, I understood why I thought I had heard many voices, for his voice sounded like a young child, and old woman, a strong youth and a wizened man all at once. It was with this voice that spoke the words that I’ll never forget as long as I live.

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”