Vicky Alvear Shecter, Cleopatra's Moon

"You must make a choice,” the Goddess said.“Is that my only choice – to choose between men?” I asked. “I want what Mother had!”“Your mother chose two men,” she said with light laughter.“No! She chose independence for her country. She chose power and freedom,” I yelled. Almost as if in response, a pulsating energy moved up from the ground into my bare feet. It thrummed up my body and radiated out in a bright light, first from my toes, then from my fingertips, then the top of my head.“I choose power,” I said. “I choose freedom."