EVERYTHING I LOST

HONOR

The work on Earth is very different from the work on Krypton. There were no bosses telling you what to do because we all knew what had to be done. I had the two usual coffees in my hand; mine, and Cat Grant's hellishly hot coffee: my boss. I reach the top floor of the Catco building and greet the secretaries and other workers I pass.
"Kaaara!" Mrs Grant was already shouting at me in the morning even though I hadn't done anything wrong yet.
"What's the matter, Mrs Grant? Here's your coffee, by the way."
"You're one minute and 36 seconds late. Do you know what that is for someone who runs an empire like mine?" I shook my head. "A lot, Kara, a lot."
"I'm so sorry, my so. . ."
"There's no time for apologies. I want you on time tomorrow. Now, book a table for dinner tonight at my favorite restaurant."
"For how many people?"
Three." I write it down mentally and leave her office, because I know if I stay a couple more seconds she'll fire me.
The phone hasn't stopped ringing all morning, which keeps me busy. I still remember the first time I heard a phone ring. . . Well, thank Rao Winn helped me with that. When I went to take the food to Mrs. Grant, I found her very absorbed in her thoughts.
"I brought you your lunch, Mrs. Grant." I said almost in a whisper, because I didn't want to take her out of her thoughts.
"Leave it on the table." She said without even looking at me. I obeyed, but before I left, curiosity got the better of me.
"Are you all right?"
"The truth is, I've had better days. It's about my son."
"Can I help you with something?"
"It's not that easy and you're still too young to understand."
"Well, I have a son. . ." Cat interrupted me.
"Does Kara Danvers have a son? How come you never told me before?"
"Well, you never asked, I guess." I lied, because every time I said something about Lar I was interrupted. I even have a picture of him on my desk!
"Well, now that I know you're a mother, maybe you can help me. See, my son Carter told me last night that he didn't want to live with me anymore and that he wanted to go with his father. And the truth is, I don't know what that change of attitude is in him. You're still with the father of your child?"
"Not really. . . He died in a car accident before we moved to National City." Cat Grant finally looked up and took off her glasses. The queen of the media was speechless.
"Wow, I'm so sorry, Kara. I shouldn't have asked. . ."
"Don't worry, you didn't know, it's normal. But thank you." We were silent, me because I was trying to hold back tears, and Cat because she didn't know how to continue after that turn of events. When I felt a little better, I spoke again.
"Look, maybe your son misses you. I know how many hours you put in at work, and I don't judge you for that, but I think Carter wants to see you more. And his way of explaining it to you is the opposite of what he really wants." I could tell I was probably right by the way Cat thought about it. It was a few minutes before she spoke again.
"Well, I think you might be right. I'll talk to him. And if that's the case, we'll redesign my schedule to have more family reconciliation." I nodded and turned to leave. "Oh, and Kara." I looked at her. "Thank you very much."
I got out of work on time, which gave me time to go to school and pick up Lar. It was rare to see him leave with anyone, as he always left last and alone. The adaptation has been very difficult, but it seems that all the work done is paying off. I say goodbye to the other parents who had already picked up their children just as Lar arrives.
"Hi, Mommy!"
"Hey, honey, how was school?"
"Hmm. Well, today we learned astrology and the teacher congratulated me on getting all the questions right."
"That's so good." We walked at a leisurely pace to our house, while Lar explained to me all the things he had learned. His teacher told me that he had never had a student as eager to learn as he was. I left out the detail that neither of us are human and therefore we are fascinated by everything we see. We get home and while Lar is watching TV in the living room I put on some comfortable clothes. I turn on the computer (another very useful gadget on earth) and continue with the task I gave myself six months ago: to look for paranormal events or sightings of spaceships. It was a task I carried out in secret, because I didn't want to seem like the typical stubborn girl who doesn't rest until things are the way she wants them to be. I was so engrossed in my quest that I didn't even notice the knock on the door.
"Mommy, the door." I noticed how Lar was using his x-ray vision to see through the door. I imitated him, as it was the best way to avoid surprises.
"But. . . What is she doing here?" I wondered as I got up to open up. "Hello, Kara."
"Mrs Grant, what a surprise." When I saw I was in a tracksuit and my hair was dishevelled, I went on. "I wasn't expecting anyone." I stepped away from the door to let her in.
"Nice apartment. It looks like something out of a rom-com movie, but it suits you." Cat's compliments were always just as inconclusive.
"Hello." Lar appeared suddenly to say hello.
"Hello, I'm Cat Grant, your mother's boss. . . And you are?"
"My name is Larry, although people usually call me Lar." Lar had learned the lesson of his identity very well.
"Well, Lar, nice to meet you. I brought you a present, by the way." Lar's face suddenly changed.
"Mrs Grant, you didn't have to. . . " I started.
"Well, Carter wasn't going to use it anymore, so what better than to give it a new user." Cat took a Playstation out of the bag with a bunch of games. Lar had never had any of that and looked at it with a totally understandable fascination.
"Thank you very much, Cat Grant." Lar thanked her and went over to my boss to hug her. At first she was surprised, but then she hugged my son too.
"I thank you, too, Mrs Grant. That's a great gift." We were silent for a few seconds until I spoke again. "What about Carter? Have you been able to talk to him?"
"If I'm here tonight instead of the dinner I had planned, it is to thank you. I've been talking to him and that's exactly what you told me. And I was blind and I didn't see the obvious and I hope I don't make the same mistake with him again ever."
"I'm very happy to hear that. Really." And something happened that I never would have imagined in six months. Cat Grant hugged me and it took me a few seconds to react because I didn't expect it.
When Cat left, Lar turned on the PlayStation. I was by his side because we were both discovering a new gadget from Earth. The TV lit up and what looked like a game started. We were both finding out new things and laughing when we learned something new. Time passed very quickly but suddenly some lights outside caught our attention: an airplane. It was out of control and looked like it was going to hit any building at any moment. Lar looked at me and I looked back. I knew what I had to do. Because I couldn't stand the idea of more people suffering what my loved ones suffered. Because there's always hope. I took off my glasses to have complete control of my powers and after a kiss on my son's forehead, I went out the window of my apartment.