EVERYTHING I LOST

NEW LIFE

"Don't you see what you just did?!" Alex walked into my apartment, furious. "You've exposed yourself to the world, Kara! You exposed both of you!"
"Alex, calm down, Lar just fell asleep. Let's talk calmly." I gave her a sign to sit on the couch next to me.
There was a rather awkward silence, as I didn't want to start justifying myself and I guess Alex didn't know how to make me come to my senses. In the end it was her who went on.
"Kara, this place isn't safe for people like you. And I'm not saying it for you specifically because you're an adult after all, but Lar is too young to understand how cruel humans can be when they're afraid."
"Afraid? But I've just rescued a plane." I didn't understand how anyone could be afraid of that.
"Well, the fact that there's someone who can do what you've done tonight may cause the opposite effect of your intentions. There are people who are going to feel threatened by your powers, because today you do good, but tomorrow you may not."
"But. . . but I would never do anything wrong against hum. . ."
"I know. But I know you. People don't know what you are and that's why you have to be careful not to commit such recklessness again."
"I understand what you're saying, but you don't know why I did it." Alex looked at me strangely so I finally told her the whole story of our busting departure from Argo, as she only knew the basics. I couldn't help but tear up as I told her how my family sacrificed themselves for me and Lar. Alex didn't interrupt me at any time, she listened carefully. "And that's why when I saw that plane going down, I didn't think about the consequences, but all I could think about was honoring them." We were silent for a few seconds until Alex dared to say something.
"When you told me the short version of your escape from Argo I remember thinking how strong you were to have gone through so much and even to have a smile every day for Lar. And I didn't know the half. I admire you, Kara, I admire you very much because I wouldn't be able to bear all the pain you have to bear." We were both crying, so I didn't hesitate and hugged her, because she was the first person I told everything I was going through. When we split up, Alex kept talking. If you're going to go through with this, you have to be careful, okay? I'll talk to J'onn so half the DEO doesn't come to stop you and you can only tell Winn. No one else. It's safer for both of us." I agreed on everything she said to me, because after all she was the expert on earthly customs. "And above all, act normal. Tomorrow everyone will comment on what you did and they can't know it was you."

Alex left minutes later because it was late and I picked up the dishes and went to sleep, thinking that the first thing I would have to do the next day was call Winn. I was awakened by the irritating sound of the alarm at the same time as usual. I didn't give it much thought and I got up. I took a quick shower and turned on the TV while I was making breakfast.

"Today we woke up with news worthy of any superhero movie. A seemingly young woman saved 135 people last night on the NC 1560 flight that took off last night. Witnesses report that a woman literally flew in from nowhere and drove the plane to a safe place, saving the lives of all passengers and crew. Can we finally say that there are superheroes? Will we have any more news of this girl? "

Alex was right, people would really talk about it. I couldn't keep watching more about the morning chat show because Lar appeared from his room rubbing his eyes, still very sleepy.
"Good morning, Starlight." From time to time I kept calling him by his nickname, because it was something I didn't want him to lose about Mon-El.
"Hi, mommy." He came up to me to give me a hug and I bent down so he could do it. "Were they talking about you on TV?" He asked as she sat in her chair.
"Well, they were talking about what I did last night. They don't know it's me" I answered him while I was giving him the bowl of cereal. "Nobody can't know. You can't tell anyone."
"But it would be a lie. And telling lies is wrong." What I needed the least was a morality class from my six-year-old son.
"It's not a lie. . . it's more like a secret. It's the same as when I told you we couldn't tell anyone where we came from." Lar seemed to think about it. I took a sip of my coffee.
"Because someone can hurt us?"
"Exactly, honey." I stroked his cheek so he wouldn't worry too much. "But Aunt Alex already knows and I'll tell Winn today. So you can talk to them about it." Lar seemed to relax a little with that answer.

I got to Catco on time even though I had been having a lot of time at school with Lar. Fortunately Mrs. Grant hadn't arrived yet, but at Catco everyone was moving around frantically. I took Cat's coffee to her office and then headed to Winn's desk, who was wearing the headphones.
"Winn. Hello." I had to wave my hand to get him to pay attention.
"Kara! Hey, sorry, I didn't hear you."
"Can we talk somewhere quieter?" Winn nodded and we went to a disused office.
"Is this about the plane?" I knew Winn would tie things up as soon as he found out.
"It's about the plane." I smiled and he smiled at me.
"I knew it was you! I knew it! But there was a chance that it wasn't but I wanted to keep my hopes up."
"Winn, calm down. Breathe." I couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm sorry, I just get really excited about these things."
"So. . . you're not angry?" Sometimes I didn't understand humans. Alex got angry at first and Winn seemed the opposite?
"Angry? Why? I've been reading about superheroes all my life, and now I know they exist. Are you angry?" I definitely didn't understand humans, but I was glad that Winn had taken it so well.
"I'm not angry. I think it's the best thing I've done since I got here, but I thought you'd still bother to show the world who I am."
"Nothing further from that. Besides. . . someone will have to make you the suit, right?"
"The suit?" Now I was very confused.
"Sure! Every superhero has a super suit. . . and you can't be any less. You're lucky to have a friend good at sewing. You leave it to me. I got it." Of course I was going to leave it to him. I didn't even know what he was talking about. We talked for a few more minutes until we left so Cat Grant wouldn't fire me. I found her in her office walking back and forth, thoughtful.
"Good morning, Mrs. Grant."
"Where have you been?"
"Well, I. . ."
"Today is a very important day!" Cat wasn't listening to me. "We have to be the first to name the girl on the plane. The first to interview her. In short, the first in everything." When Alex told me people would talk about it, I never imagined it would be this way.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" That's the only thing I could think of asking. Cat Grant thought about it for a few seconds and suddenly stopped walking around and took off her glasses and looked at me.
"Let's put ourselves in the shoes of this girl." I just got tense. " What do you think drove her to save that plane? Why now?"
"Well, the. . ."
"Look, I think something must have happened to her to suddenly start saving people. . . although we don't know how long she's had superpowers or maybe what they're saying is true and aliens exist and she's one of them. Anyway, what we do know is that she's a girl and that she has superpowers. . . Super. . . girl? That's it, Supergirl. I think that's the perfect name." I was surprised and didn't know what to say to her, even though it wasn't the name I would have chosen.
"Supergirl? Doesn't that sound very childish?" I didn't think my comment would hurt Cat Grant's feelings, but apparently it did, so I rectified quickly. "I mean, wouldn't it be better to use a woman instead of girl? Something like Superwoman."
"Not at all, Kara! Supergirl is cool, it's a name that both girls and women will feel identified. . . In short, it's the perfect name. Schedule an urgent meeting with all department heads." I had to admit that it was true that the term girl could identify more people. I nodded and walked out of my boss's office, thinking about the name by which the world would know me. Supergirl.