M E D U S A

The smell of incense hangs heavily in the air. The salty breeze of the ocean awakens the woman from her pain-induced haze. There’s blood on the floor of the sacred temple. A temple that was supposed to offer protection from the god, who took what he had no right to. A mortal woman amongst her immortal siblings, made into a monster no one will ever dare to look upon.

But how could you? How could you be silent? How could you not step in? Why did you not defend her, when she could not? You have all that power. But I have all that rage.

No one will be able to meet my gaze unless they want flesh to turn to bone. Unless they want, that air makes space for grey in their lungs. I’ll not be powerless again. Even if it was meant as a curse, it was the first blessing I received in my life. Something that was completely mine. Something that can not be taken away. And when the voices of my fellow warriors ring out over the centuries, I’ll join their battle cries.

My face adorns the skin of many now. I’m not seen as a monster anymore, even though I’m not perfect. I’m twisted and dark and messy. But I know I did not deserve what happened. No one ever deserves it. But there will always be someone who thinks they have the right.

…

So now…

there’s an ache

when I think about the women who came before me

what they endured and what we share

how there once was a mortal woman amongst her immortal siblings

whose feet touched the same earth and whose heart was filled with love and hope

who was broken in a sacred temple

made into monster for a crime she didn’t commit

who never asked for it

never deserved to be hunted like a creature

so I’ll speak up

for all the women who were silenced

who were made to feel like it’s their fault

I’ll share your rage

let’s make the earth tremble

let’s make them fear us.