Jessica's superheroes

I

Her name was Jessica, and she was 20 years old. Illuminated by the glow of youth, she was thirsty for knowledge and, step by step, explored everything in the world that surrounded her. She was a student at the University of Bridgetown. Her dreams of studying at a great university melted away in the challenges she couldn't answer in a significant way. She became increasingly aware of the inferiority of her intelligence and knowledge. This inferiority caused teasing and laughter from colleagues and scathing comments from professors. She often wondered if she was wasting her parents' money.

One fine and sunny day, a mature man in his 30s with experienced eyes started walking through the University of Bridgetown. His name was Logan, and he was a professor of English Language and English Literature. His words, which were full of knowledge, experience, and wisdom, were for the students like soft music that caressed their ears.

Jessica attended his classes and listened to him with both ears and eyes open. As Logan spoke, Jessica didn't blink. His voice strangely entered her, arousing something hidden and profound, which she didn't even know existed before.

Their first direct contact was powerful. As she read her essay on the father of American literature, Mark Twain, his eyes were fixed on her. She felt that it looked like Superman's laser gaze that you couldn't resist. Those lasers of his gaze penetrated through the layers of the text of her essay and the quoted parts of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer directly into her soul.

The amphitheater was packed, buzzing in a low whisper. Jessica stood at the podium, holding her essay. From the depths of her being, her fear of public speaking emerged and took a terrifying form. Scared and nervous, Jessica began to read her essay. Her voice sounded calm at first, but she could hear some students murmuring and laughing in the back rows.

As she read, her fear intensified, reaching a point where her heart pounded much harder. Her words escaped her, and finally, she stopped altogether. The amphitheater fell silent as Jessica stood frozen and speechless, looking like an old Greek statue.

Watching the scene from his desk, Professor Logan recognized the battle unfolding before him with his superpowers - keen intelligence and insight enriched by experience. He stood up and walked over to Jessica.

"Jessica," he said firmly, "you are not alone at this time."

The professor continued, “What you are feeling now is a natural part of learning. We've all felt fear at some point, but what defines us as adults is how we deal with it. Don't fight the fear. Embrace that feeling and turn it into the energy you need to make things better. Let fear make you perfect."

Jessica took a deep breath, and the professor addressed the entire group, encouraging them to be supportive and understanding rather than mocking.

A few students in the back rows, realizing they were being called, blushed and looked down. The professor turned to Jessica again, gently encouraging her to share her thoughts.

Jessica gathered her courage and found her voice: "Fear... is not something that should stop us. It's just a sign that we care, that what we do is very important to us."

As she spoke, she felt calmer, and her voice became confident. The professor nodded his head in satisfaction, and the students listened intently.

"Fear can weaken us," continued Jessica, "but it can also be our guide if we know how to control it, and we will do that with acceptance and understanding."

She continued to read her essay with increasing confidence. The professor stood beside her with a gentle smile, and when she finished, a respectful silence filled the room. The students looked at her with newfound admiration, and the professor nodded, drawing applause.

The sound of applause filled the room, and Jessica felt proud. Not only did she face the audience, but she also defeated her inner, big enemy. Professor Logan leaned over and whispered, "You've been great, and this is just the beginning."

When she stepped off the podium, Jessica knew she had taken a big step in her life, thanks to Professor Logan, her superhero.

II

The sky over the mountain darkened, and the storm began to rage. The wind howled with the voices of evil spirits, and the rain poured as if from some vast container in which it had been collecting for years.

On that day, without suspecting anything, a previously arranged group of professors and students went to the mountain for a one-day picnic. The weather was fine in the morning, but in the late afternoon, the mountain was engulfed in an apocalyptic storm. The group soon broke up, and everyone sought shelter for themselves. Without thinking, Jessica took Logan's hand and said to her superhero:

"Get me out of here! Save us!"

Logan accepted the hand and began to run. They ran in the rain for hours, followed by thunder that shook the mountain. At last, they came to a shelter that looked like a small hut. Although it was windowless, the hut they found themselves in offered refuge from the cruel forces of nature in one part of it. There was some wood, and Logan managed to start a fire with a small piece of string, a wooden stick, and a hole in a log.

"That man has superpowers!" Jessica cheered to herself, a subtle tension rising in her.

"I can't remember the last time I saw a storm this bad. Not even in a movie," Jessica said, shivering in her wet clothes.

"Yes, this is something that does not happen often in a lifetime. To keep them from getting sick, we'll have to take off all our clothes and dry them on the fire," Logan answered, taking off his shirt. "Don't worry. We'll sit by the fire, but we'll turn our backs on each other, so you don't have to be ashamed or worried."

Silence suddenly descended, only broken by the sounds of wind and rain loudly hitting the wooden boards of the hut.

"You know," Jessica began softly, "I'm not ashamed of you. With anyone else, this would be a very awkward situation."

Logan turned and looked into her emerald green eyes, which shone in the darkness.

"You're exceptional," he said.

Logan turned to Jessica, who felt her heart skip a beat. His eyes, set deep in his muscular face, seemed to begin to reveal his mysterious interior in the glow of fire. As he spoke, he exuded confidence and authority. A true superhero.

 He held out his hands to her. Their bodies came closer, and a long, warm, and tender embrace ensued. They felt their bodies melt together. Their souls touched in one kiss. They exchanged caresses, and intoxicated with bliss and passion, Jessica gave him her virginity, her most beautiful gift of love.

They fell asleep. The rain had stopped, and the mountain was recovering from the storm. The fire was out, and the clothes were almost dry. The sun was already casting its rays above the horizon. They dressed quickly and hurried to Bridgetown.

Thus began one of the most beautiful periods in Jessica's life. They waited for each other for classes to end and went to McDonald's before the cinema. The films they watched in the cinema were carefully chosen, and they never watched them in detail because of the darkness of the cinema hall and the seats in the back rows, which they considered too much of a challenge. More interesting than the best movie was the opportunity to share love. They kissed in unusual places, always hidden from prying eyes.

III

Jessica's heart was broken. Classes were over for that year, and Logan didn't get a contract extension and left. He left Jessica heartbroken and full of memories of the stormy night that changed everything and burned into her brain like a brand.

It hurt Jessica so much that Logan left without a conversation, without an oath of eternal love, and without even a written goodbye letter. Logan disappeared into silence, leaving plenty of room for doubt and sadness. Jessica was slowly learning that his superpowers, which she loved and admired so much, were just a fleeting flash that blinded her. Now, the whole Logan story seems like a facade that crumbles over time.

Over time, Anna noticed shadows that had previously been hidden beneath the surface. Those shadows, like awakened vampires, attacked Logan's superpowers that she remembered so well. She heard the professors start gossiping about her superhero, Logan. Some students laughed when they met her. She could feel Logan's superpowers fading.

Jessica learned that true power lies in honesty, respect, and the courage to face one's faults, not just in one's beauty, knowledge, and intelligence. Filled with new knowledge, she opened her eyes once more and moved forward. She was aware of her growing strength to overcome challenges and find true love and respect.

IV

On that beautiful and sunny day, she was sitting on the shore of a nearby lake. She was once again in a dilemma. She knew that superpowers are concentrated energy, and energy is indestructible. If one person has lost them, it does not mean that these powers are destroyed and gone. They had to go somewhere. She was convinced that she had received a portion of superpowers. This is undoubtedly because she recognized her wisdom, self-confidence, and ease in solving all her problems. She had never felt it to such an extent before. But where have most of those other superpowers gone?

It's been six months since Logan left without a trace or a sound. Her pregnancy could no longer be hidden. There, by the lake, she fantasizes about the superhero she is wearing. She knew that most of Logan's superpowers belonged to this new life that will be born.

Her child needs superpowers because he's going to save the world.