When I saw the angel, I knew I’d lost it. I’m not really sure if that’s what it was—all I know is that a shimmering appeared in the air above us. The ghostly figure looked like a woman in a long robe, her wings beating languidly and her hands outstretched in the protective gesture you see in biblical illustrations. She was there for the blink of an eye—and then I couldn’t see her any more. I kept my head down and ran, telling myself it was only a trick of dust swirling in the light.