Free Wings of Destruction by Victoria Zagar

a happy twitch of his wings. Twenty-five Earth years had passed faster than they could have imagined, but they’d had enough time to build a life. They watched the world go by through their television set, protecting their earthly charges the best they could without physical interference.
    There were still some gloomy days for Martin, moments when the darkness seemed to blot out even the light of Heaven, but Anael made a point of complimenting him every day. With Martin’s growing self-esteem, the little voice in the back of his mind that had tormented him for so many years was growing quieter. He was learning to enjoy life, one day at a time.
    "Tim’s going to tell Sarah." Anael’s hand squeezed Martin’s shoulder. "I know you’ve been waiting for this moment."
    Martin smiled, getting to his feet and brushing the dirt from his hands. He looked up at the sun before following Anael into the house. The television was on, showing the angels the ins and outs of the human lives they were watching over like a soap opera.
    Martin took his place next to Anael on the sofa as Sarah invited her boyfriend into her studio apartment. Paintings lined the walls, oil artwork depicting an imaginary dystopian world she had named Ragnor. A comic and animated series were being made depicting her world, and so she had been able to afford the well-lit New York apartment.
    "It’s good to see you, Tim. Come on in." Tim was wearing a suit, the neat folds and crisp shirt a sharp contrast to his round face and wide eyes. Downy brown hair hung into his eyes and he seemed to be hiding behind it as he perched himself on the edge of Sarah’s couch. An ambulance sped by and Tim waited for silence before he started to speak.
    "Sarah, we’re getting serious. Really serious. That’s why I had to come here and talk to you,” Tim said.
    Sarah walked across the apartment in a satin Chinese dress and sat down next to Tim, taking his hand in hers.
    "If we’re going too fast, I can slow down. I never meant to make you feel uncomfortable." Sarah shook her head. "I never meant to push you into intimacy..."
    "No. It’s not that. I want it, but there’s something you have to know first." Tim scratched the back of his neck, trying to ease the hairs that were standing up on end with nervousness. "I never meant to deceive you or anything. I want you to know that."
    "I do know that. Come on, Tim, talk to me. What makes you think there’s anything I couldn’t understand?"
    "I’m transgender. I was born in a female body." Tim blurted out his secret and averted his gaze. Sarah’s lips curled into a thin smile.
    "I know." She squeezed Tim’s hand gently. “I figured it out a while ago. I just wanted to hear you say it. I knew you would tell me when you were ready."
    "You’re okay with it?” Tim asked, his eyes wide with joyful shock.
    "Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?"
    "People usually freak out." Tim smiled. "You’re the first person who hasn’t taken it negatively. Do you already have trans friends?"
    "Not really." Sarah stood up and walked to the window, watching the rain beat against the large window pane. "I just... I don’t have a problem with it. You are you. You are Tim. I love Tim. Why should the shape of your body matter to me?" She looked up at the clouds. She had no memory of her former life, but there was something that felt familiar to her about their discussion. As if she could somehow walk in Tim’s shoes and understand where he was coming from without even having to struggle with it.
    Tim joined her at the window and turned her face to his, drawing Sarah into a gentle kiss. Sarah kissed back, drawing Tim into her warm embrace and whispering into his ear.
    "God doesn’t make mistakes, you know.”
    *~*~*
    Anael turned off the television, reaching for a tissue. Martin was tearing up as well, trying to hide the water welling up behind his eyes but failing.
    "I think it’s best we leave them alone." Martin nodded at Anael’s