52 pages 1 hour read

Sacha Lamb

When the Angels Left the Old Country

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2022

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Symbols & Motifs

Tears

Little Ash’s tears are a motif that explains the theme of Friendships That Bridge Differences, allowing Little Ash to share his perspective with the angel. As a demon, Little Ash has beliefs and abilities that differ greatly from the angel’s. While the angel can summon holy books from thin air and easily remove bullets from its body, Little Ash’s powers tend to focus more on the ability to see the essence of people. For example, Little Ash can see the sins of others crawling on them and can see ghosts when the angel cannot. However, by sharing his tears with the angel, Little Ash opens the angel’s eyes to the world as he perceives it. By literally placing his tears in the eyes of the angel, Little Ash allows the angel to see the ghosts around them, giving it sight that it would not have on its own. By doing so, Little Ash bridges the gap between them and fosters their friendship by sharing his unique abilities. Little Ash’s willingness to share this with the angel also demonstrates his commitment to his friend and his desire to broaden the angel’s awareness.