Ordinary Life: The Pastor’s Daughter
Charley Smithereenes grew up in a small, tightly knit community where her father, Pastor James Smithereenes, was the moral compass for the town. Her mother, ever-devoted to her husband’s ministry, was the model housewife. Charley had two brothers, James Jr. and Luke, who were the pride and joy of the family. While her parents lavished attention on her brothers—shaping them to follow in their father’s footsteps—Charley was often left in the background.
“You’re a girl,” her mother would say whenever Charley asked why she couldn’t go fishing with her brothers or help with church leadership. “Your place is here, helping with the chores.”
It didn’t matter how much she excelled in school or how she longed for her parents’ approval. To them, Charley’s purpose was to marry, raise a family, and support the church—no more, no less.
But Charley had a secret. One Sunday evening after choir practice, she shared a kiss with a girl behind the church. The girl, a kindred spirit named Lila, had been her confidant, her escape from the suffocating expectations of her family. That brief, tender moment was the first time Charley felt truly alive.
The Church Incident: A Life Shattered
Their kiss was interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps. Pastor James loomed over them, his face contorted with fury. The aftermath was devastating. Charley was dragged home, humiliated, and berated. The next Sunday, her father delivered a sermon about the evils of sin and deviance, a thinly veiled attack on his own daughter.
But the worst punishment came afterward. Her parents arranged for her to marry a young man from the congregation, Jonathan. He was kind in his own way, but their union was a cage, a tool to suppress her true self.
“You’ll be cured,” her mother said as she adjusted Charley’s wedding veil. “This is God’s will.”
Life in a Cage
The marriage was a facade. Jonathan was patient at first, offering her a semblance of companionship. But when it came to intimacy, Charley recoiled. Each touch, each kiss, felt like a betrayal of her soul. She loved women—she knew that deep down—but admitting it would mean defying her family and her community.
Instead, Charley threw herself into her studies. With Jonathan’s reluctant support, she enrolled in medical school. Becoming a doctor was more than a career for her; it was a lifeline, a way to channel her pain into purpose. She specialized in psychiatry, focusing on LGBTQ+ mental health, using her own experiences to help others navigate the same darkness she faced.
As her career flourished, the cracks in her marriage grew wider. Jonathan grew resentful of her emotional distance, and Charley could no longer pretend. One evening, as they sat in silence at the dinner table, she finally spoke the words she had been terrified to say.
“I can’t do this anymore, Jonathan,” she said, her voice trembling but resolute. “I’m gay. I’ve always been gay.”
Jonathan’s reaction was a mix of shock and quiet anger, but he eventually let her go. “You deserve to be happy,” he said, though his voice was heavy with disappointment.
Breaking Free
Divorced and estranged from her family, Charley finally began to live authentically as herself. She legally changed her name to Charley, shedding the expectations tied to the name Charlotte. Her practice flourished, becoming a haven for LGBTQ+ individuals who needed a safe space to heal and grow.
But even as she thrived professionally, Charley felt a lingering emptiness. The trauma of her upbringing and the church incident still haunted her. She often wondered if she could ever truly leave the past behind.
A New Purpose
Charley’s life changed forever the night a mysterious woman entered her office. She introduced herself as Yasmin Butquis—better known as Shehera. Yasmin had come seeking help for the emotional weight of her newfound powers, but their conversation took an unexpected turn when Yasmin mentioned the Rainbow League.
“I think you’d be perfect for us,” Yasmin said. “We protect people like us—people who’ve been silenced, hurt, or pushed aside. You’ve already been doing that in your own way, but with the League, you could do even more.”
Charley was skeptical. She had spent her whole life fighting for others but hadn’t imagined herself as a hero. Then, Yasmin introduced her to another member of the League: Dyke Girl.
Dyke Girl’s brash confidence and unapologetic authenticity were a stark contrast to Charley’s reserved demeanor. But when the two began to talk, Charley felt an instant connection.
“You’re not alone, you know,” Dyke Girl said, her voice softer than Charley had expected. “What happened to you… it happened to me, too. Different details, same story. But you don’t have to let it define you. You’re stronger than that.”
For the first time in years, Charley felt understood. Together, Dyke Girl and Yasmin helped her see that her pain and resilience were her greatest strengths. She adopted the alias Clitora, a name that symbolized her reclaiming her identity and embracing her power.
Powers and Role in the Rainbow League
As Clitora, Charley combines her psychiatric expertise with her natural ability to read and influence emotions. While she doesn’t have traditional superpowers, her sharp mind and empathetic nature make her a cornerstone of the Rainbow League. She provides emotional support to her teammates and strategizes ways to de-escalate conflicts, often resolving situations without the need for violence.
Her intimate knowledge of the human mind also makes her a formidable opponent. Clitora can anticipate her enemies’ moves, turning their own fears and insecurities against them.
Dynamic with Her Family
Charley’s relationship with her parents and brothers remains strained. Her father refuses to acknowledge her identity, and her mother clings to the hope that Charley will “come back to God.” Her brothers are more accepting but remain largely silent, caught between their love for their sister and their loyalty to their father.
Despite this, Charley has found peace. She knows she may never have the family’s approval, but she has built her own family within the Rainbow League. Together, they fight not just for justice but for the right to exist and thrive as their authentic selves.
© AF 2019
No Comments