In the company of women like this— sharp-edged as raw diamonds but with soft hands and hearts, not strong in spite of anything but powerful because of everything— I feel invincible. Every chink and rut and battering wind has made us tough and brave and impossible to strike down. We are mountains— or perhaps temples, with foundations that could outlast time itself.

I don’t know what you’re referencing, madam,” the chairman says, his voice raised over mine.“I’m talking about menstruation, sir!” I shout in return.It’s like I set the hall on fire, manifested a venomous snake from thin air, also set that snake on fire, and then threw it at the board. The men all erupt into protestations and a fair number of horrified gasps. I swear one of them actually swoons at the mention of womanly bleeding.

Not a man is going to protect me, because this is a woman's fight, and we are going to protect ourselves!

The colours of the universe are there because of the existence of womankind.