Jenna Morgan had always thrived on the thrill of uncovering the extraordinary. As a reporter for the New York Times, she had exposed corruption, interviewed celebrities, and chased down rumors of paranormal activity. But nothing had prepared her for the quest she was on now: finding May Zing, the legendary superheroine who had vanished from the public eye a generation ago.
Rumors had surfaced that May Zing was living a quiet life in a small village in Mexico. Determined to get the story, and armed with research and clues she had been collecting for months, Jenna packed her bags and flew to Querétaro. From there, she embarked on a journey East by bus to the small city of Tequisquiapan.
The small city was picturesque and charming, with its cobblestone streets, plazas and churches. Jenna's Spanish was passable, but the locals were tight-lipped about May Zing. After days of subtle inquiries, she finally got a lead from an elderly woman who sold woven baskets at the South side of Plaza Miguel Hidalgo.
"She lives outside of town on the Southern tip of Presa Centenario, in a blue house surrounded by Jacaranda trees. You’ll know you’re there when you see it," the woman whispered, her eyes twinkling with knowing. "But she's not who she once was."
Jenna hired a private driver to take her to the South tip of the lake. After some searching, she saw a quaint, cobalt-blue house back away from the dirt road, surrounded by the trees with purple blooms.
The door was ajar, and she could hear the soft strumming of a guitar. She knocked gently.
"Come in," called a voice, calm without urgency.
Inside the house, the walls and shelves were adorned with local artwork, sculptures and kick knacks; there was nothing here that would indicate that this was the home of a former superheroine.
At a small table holding a guitar sat May Zing. Her trademark dreadlocks were now white and cascading over her shoulders. She was so much older, but Jenna knew it was her. Her fingers deftly plucked the strings of a guitar. She looked up, her eyes sharp and curious.
"I knew I would be found one day," she said with a smile. "You must know what you’re doing."
"I’d like to think so," Jenna replied. “I’m sorry to intrude. And I‘ll gladly leave if you’d rather not talk. But I do have some questions, if you don’t mind. The world wants to know what happened to you.”
“I don’t mind at all, with one condition,” May Zing replied. “And please, call me Isabella.”
Over tea, Isabella recounted her story. She had been born with extraordinary abilities, which she had used to fight crime and protect the innocent. But as the years passed, the burden of her powers grew heavy. After a particularly harrowing battle with Mick Mesmer that left her gravely injured, she decided to retire.
She had saved countless lives over the years. But at that point in time, she needed to save herself.
“Here, I found peace," Isabella said, gazing out the window at the Jacaranda trees, the grass and the lake. "I can be myself without the weight of the world on my shoulders."
Jenna listened, and was taken by Isabella's tale. The woman who had once soared through the skies now found solace on the ground in the simplicity of a remote, solitary life. It was a story of resilience, transformation, and the quest for inner peace.
As Jenna prepared to leave, she turned back at the front door, thanked Isabella for her time, and asked, "What was the condition you mentioned earlier?"
Isabella offered a serene smile. "Please don’t reveal where I live. If people knew, they would come here and destroy the peace and solitude I’ve built here.”
“Of course,” Jenna replied.
Isabella sensed what Jenna’s last question was going to be, and answered before she could ask it.
“The world has new heroes now,” Isabella said. “My time has passed. But I will always be May Zing in spirit, and my legacy lives on in the hearts of those I helped."
Jenna left the blue house by the lake with a profound sense of respect and a story that would captivate the world. She had come looking for a superhero and found something even more inspiring: a woman who had discovered the true meaning of strength and serenity.
