The thing alighted on the landing.
A being. A creature.
Too massive to inspire anything but confidence,
Yet too light to leave a shadow.
Who was it? What was it?
It’s translucence refracted the light of the crisp morning sky
Into the eyes of the gathering crowd.
A shimmer. A jangle. A golden glistening outlining the form.
Had it wings? Had it shoulders? It was impossible to say.
But the aura was clear—those present knew in unison that a form of salvation had descended upon their dystopia.
“At last!” They cried. “Amend!” They reached out with their grasping hands open. “Advocate!” “Avenge!”
The being exhaled as it surveyed them but stayed still. Then it cocked its head as if confused and trying to understand.
“Redress!” They cried. “Reform! Restructure!”
They were certain they’d be whisked away to a more hopeful future.
Silent as it was, it looked longer and deeper into the crowd. It looked deeply, as one trying to translate an unfamiliar language.
“Acquit!” They yelled. Their fists were up. “Absolve! Vindicate!”
Still it took no action. It surveyed once more. Then turning its back on the shame-mongers of the earth, it lifted itself and unexpectedly flew away, never to return.