Vaine Toa

She won’t call herself a superhero.
She’ll say, “I’m just doing what needs to be done.”
But we know better.

She’s the one holding everything together. 
The calendar, the kids, the congregation, the cousins.

The one who shows up early, leaves late, and never really leaves.
Because even when she’s not there, she’s still the force behind it all.

She leads with alofa.
She carries more than we see.
And she does it with a quiet strength, greater than we'll ever fully understand.

But even superheroes need looking after.
And when she steps into that clinic for a breast screen, that’s her moment.

It’s not big or showy. 
No spotlight. 
No soundtrack.
Just her taking the time to put herself first.

That’s brave.
That’s what real strength looks like.
That’s her superhero transformation scene.
Not the one on screen, but the one that actually saves lives.

She’s not just doing it for herself.
She’s doing it for her aiga.
For her community.
For all the people who’d fall over if she wasn’t quietly holding them up.

That’s true care. 
And that takes courage.
That’s Vaine Toa.

She’s a superhero. A Vaine Toa.
And we love her for it.