Susie in Her Superhero Costume

Susie in her superhero costume locked her door when she heard her stepfather walk down the hall. Walk down the hall to tell her a bedtime story. A bedtime story that she didn’t want to hear anymore. Hear any more of his fairy tales. His fairy tales about how little girls are supposed to be passive. Passive little girls that aren’t believed when they make things up. Make things up, like a superhero. A superhero was not coming to save her, her best friend told her. Told her she needed to tell her mom. Her mom, who struggled to raise five children, had been a widow, until the stepfather showed up.  Showed up to save her mother. Her mother refused to believe her, saying she was disappointed. Disappointed was what Susie felt about her mother. Her mother left Susie to save herself.

To save herself she became her own superhero, Invisible Woman. Invisible Woman created a protective shield around herself. Around herself and her time. Time to study accelerated material. Material like advanced biology. Biology that earned her a scholarship to study medicine. Medicine that cured some folks. Some folks that deserved to be saved. To be saved or not to be saved, it was now up to her. Up to her to seek justice for all the little girls. The little girls who came to her medical practice with traumatized bodies. Traumatized bodies from men like her stepfather. Her stepfather who made an appointment to discuss chest pains. Chest pains that stopped along with his beating heart. His beating heart that ceased when Susie in her superhero costume locked her door. 


Maria Warner, a published author and athlete, is a passionate lifelong learner who thrives on a balanced life. She channels her creativity through writing and art, maintains her physical well-being through running, and finds purpose in helping others through sobriety support and volunteering with Girls on the Run. Maria’s mission is to inspire herself and her community by sharing her experiences and encouraging everyone to pursue their passions. Whether it’s hosting writing retreats, cheering on young runners, or simply offering words of support, Maria strives to create a ripple effect of thriving individuals.

One response to “Susie in Her Superhero Costume”

  1. andrewcareaga Avatar

    what a powerful story. Love the author’s approach of starting a sentence with the same word or phrase that ended the previous sentence.

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