Chapter Text
The party was in full swing. Music flooded the room, laughter filled the air, and people enjoyed themselves. The whole village had turned up to congratulate the youngest member of the Madrigal Family and his amazing gift. Kids played amongst the trees while the adults indulged in the feeling of music and drinks.
The Madrigal Family, delighted by a new addition to the miracle, were the most jovial of all. Pepa danced with her son, Antonio, while Felix swept Abuela away in a makeshift tango. Camilo danced among the villagers, shapeshifting between the different people and earning a laugh in return. Dolores watched from the side, making sure she wasn’t too close to the loud music. She smiled at her youngest brother as his ceremony brought back memories of her own.
Everyone was enjoying themselves.
Everyone, but Mirabel.
Mirabel watched from the sidelines as her family enjoyed themselves with the different merriments. She was happy for Antonio, she truly was. But no matter how hard she tried, she could not shake the feelings of jealousy that clutched her heart.
“Why can’t I be like Antonio? Why can’t I be like the rest of my family? Why can’t I be given a miracle? ”
Mirabel has asked herself these types of questions for years, ever since the night she didn’t receive her gift. She had been upset, rightfully so. Anyone would be. Her mother had reassured her numerous times that even without a gift, she still loved her. Mirabel believed her, but Mirabel would never forget the look on her Abuela’s face when her door disappeared.
Disappointment. Utter disappointment.
As she grew up, Mirabel made a promise that she would do anything to show her family that she was still important. Even without a gift, there were things she could do. If someone needed help carrying something, she was there. A house needing a repaint, Mirabel was the first to volunteer. She may not have been able to lift churches like her sister Luisa or grow bushels of roses for weddings like Isabel, but Mirabel was always ready to help.
Despite her hard work, Mirabel still noticed Abuela’s disappointed looks. She still heard her siblings say she was annoying and in the way all the time. Over the years, Mirabel still held on to the hope that the candle would see how hard she was working and bless her with a miracle. But no matter how hard she hoped and worked, it never came.
So when the family gets together to take a picture commemorating the event without Mirabel, she’s not surprised. She barely has the strength to feel sad. Instead, she feels angry. She’s angry at her family for never really being there for her. She’s angry at Casita for never giving her a gift. With her mind made up, Mirabel waits until the coast is clear before sneaking out of Antonio’s room. She walks to her room, careful not to stomp so that Dolores doesn’t hear her. She opens the door to the nursery, once again reminded of everything that will never be hers. While the rest of her family was given a room suited to their gifts, Mirabel was stuck with the same room she’s had since she was little.
Opening her closet, Mirabel begins packing her things. She grabs all her dresses, her extra pair of glasses, and a few knickknacks. The entire time she was trying to pack, Casita tried to stop her. Casita dumped all her clothes out of her bag, tried hiding her things, and even attempted to shut her in her room. No matter what, Mirabel was steadfast in her decision.
Finally able to pry the door open, Mirabel grabbed her things and marched towards the back door that lead into the woods. Her hand hesitated over the doorknob, wondering if this was what she truly wanted. She turned her head, listening to the music radiating from Antonio’s room. She heard the cries of joy coming from the people and at that moment, Mirabel realized that even after she’s gone, life would continue without her.
Mirabel thought back to her Abuela’s words. She remembered her telling Mirabel that it would be best if she stood out of the way. Maybe this is the best way to do that? Maybe the best thing for the family would be for Mirabel to run away.
Mind officially made up, Mirabel opened the back door and stepped outside. Just as she was about to disappear into the woods, she turned her head back. Casita was desperately trying to get her to come back, slamming its shutter’s open and shut in a loud plea. Mirabel thought she saw a crack form on the outside wall, but she shrugged it off as a part of her imagination. No matter what Casita did, Mirabel made her choice.
She was no longer waiting on a miracle.
/()-()/
The moment Mirabel was out of view, Casita knew it was only a matter of time before they crumbled. Mirabel running away reminded Casita of the time when Bruno disappeared all those years ago. The house could feel the magic keeping it alive weaken when Bruno was exiled out of the family. The only thing that kept Casita together was the fact Bruno never really left. He still saw himself as a part of the family even if the Madrigals thought differently.
Mirabel’s case was different. Not only had she left the family for good, but she also no longer saw herself as one of the Madrigals. This greatly weakened the magic the candle provided. Casita tried everything to keep Mirabel here. The house even tried alerting the rest of the family of what was happening, but they were too busy enjoying the party.
Casita was starting to lose hope as the cracks started to get worse. The light on the doors started to flicker, the flame of the candle flickering dangerously. Casita was desperately hoping that the family would notice what was going on and realize Mirabel has disappeared. The door to Antonio’s room opened and out stepped Alma Madrigal.
Alma gazed around the Casita and gasped in horror as she took in the many cracks etched alongside the walls. As new cracks began to form, she called forth Dolores. She barely had to speak her name before Dolores was standing in front of Alma.
“Abuela, what’s wrong? Why do I hear a bunch of cracking?”
Alma used her body to shield the cracks from Dolores’ view. “Listen to me carefully, Dolores. I need you to gather the rest of the family and send the townspeople back home. Tell the Madrigals that I need to see them in the entryway. Got it?” Dolores heard her grandmother’s heart racing in her chest and saw the scared look in her eyes. Nodding her head, Dolores set out to gather the family.
When all the townspeople were gone, Alma shut the door and turned to her family. “I hope you know why you’re all here.” Alma started.
“I assume it has to do with the cracks in the walls that were definitely not there before,” Camilo spoke up.
“Precisely. Does anyone know why this might be happening?” When no one spoke up, Alma was getting ready to ask again when a loud-sounding crack echoed throughout the house. The family screamed in fright as a large crack split the Casita nearly in half. Alma looked up in horror as she watched the flame of the candle about to go out.
“What’s going on? What’s happening?” Isabel clung to her sister Luisa as the ground continued to shake. More cracks appeared alongside the walls, chunks of tile falling to the ground in the process.
“We have to get out of here. Casita is falling apart all around us.” A large section of the roof collapsed as the family rushed outside. The Madrigal’s watched in shock and horror as the home they have known all their lives crumbled to the ground, leaving nothing but dust and rubble.
It was in total silence that Julietta Madrigal spoke up and said, “Wait, where’s Mirabel?”