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"Today has to be perfect."
"I know, Mamá."
"The whole town is going to be there-"
"I know, Mamá!"
Thunder rumbled above Pepa's head and Abuela gasped, gesturing quickly to Bruno, who stood at the ready. He quickly held an umbrella up over his sister's head. Abuela waved the cloud away in annoyance.
Pepa was sitting at the table in front of the mirror, wearing a beautiful white dress as Abuela and Julieta helped her to get ready.
"Look up." Julieta said softly, and as Pepa did she carefully drew black through her sister's lashes and across her waterlines.
Abuela pinched her daughter's cheek affectionately and Pepa groaned, though Bruno and Julieta knew secretly she adored it.
"This is the day you show everyone how perfect you are!" Abuela said proudly, turning to fix her daughter's hair. Pepa stared ahead, her eyes wide as Abuela continued. "Perfect skies, and a perfect day..."
Bruno watched Pepa, noticing more and more sweat forming on her face and neck each time mama mentioned the word perfect. Bruno made worried eye contact with Julieta in the mirror's reflection, and Julieta sighed back, shaking her head in agreement. It was too much pressure.
"You want Félix's family to be sure they have married into a good family." Abuela continued, kissing her daughter's head before pinning in her white veil. "A strong family. We are all counting on you to make us proud today, Pepa."
The cloud rumbled again, this time rain falling down over Pepa and pattering on the umbrella that Bruno held. Julieta ducked her head under the umbrella too and continued to work. Abuela exclaimed, stepping back in disapproval.
"Pepa!" Abuela scolded. "You have a cloud."
Pepa's cheeks flushed as she stared ahead into the mirror, her eyes filled with shame and worry. Pepa took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Bruno watched her mouth moving quickly and silently as she repeated her mantra in her head. Pepa grabbed her hand and twisted her fingers anxiously, her nails digging into skin.
"Enough." Abuela lightly tapped Pepa's hand to make her stop. Pepa quickly opened her eyes in embarrassment, hiding her hands under the table.
"It's just rain, Mamá." Julieta spoke up, smiling encouragingly at Pepa in the mirror as she tried to keep her tone casual and calm. "That's why we have umbrellas. I say we just let Pepa enjoy today."
"I want that too mija, believe me. But you know how these things go." Abuela sighed, her voice tired as she repeated a lecture they'd all heard many times over. "A thunder will lead to a drizzle. A drizzle will lead to a sprinkle. And before we know it, we have a hurricane!"
The cloud above Pepa thundered loudly and sparked as Abuela finished her sentence, rain suddenly pouring down over the whole room. Pepa groaned, her breathing fast and hard as she glared up at the rain with angry eyes. Bruno did his best to cover her with the umbrella.
"Pepa!" Abuela scolded, holding her arms out as she looked down at the drenched hems of Pepa's wedding dress, before turning to Julieta in exasperation. "You see?"
"Sorry." Pepa muttered in frustration, closing her eyes again and focusing on her mantra, sweat running down her face and neck. As she focused on staying calm, the rain slowed down around her.
"Good." Abuela sighed. "Now, I am going to get changed out of these wet clothes. And when I return I want to see nothing but clear skies from you, Pepa. Do you hear me? No clouds allowed."
"Look at you, guapa." Félix whispered in wonder, smiling warmly at Pepa as they stood at the alter. "You are so beautiful."
Pepa smiled shakily back at him, her body stiff and her fingers trembling by her sides. Sweat dripped down her face as she glanced over at all of the townsfolk watching. Mama was right, the whole town really was here. Her eyes darted to Félix's family and then quickly back at him. She took a deep and shaky breath.
Clear skies, Pepa, clear skies.
"Hey," Félix whispered softly over to Pepa, and she quickly turned back. Félix smiled lovingly as her eyes met his. "It's ok to be scared..." Félix smiled, before leaning in closer and whispering. "So am I."
Pepa looked back at him in surprise. He winked at her encouragingly, then gently took her hands in his and kissed them.
Pepa gulped, feeling panic start to rise within her. Why was Félix scared to marry her?
Pepa looked down, feeling her chest tighten. No - She couldn't. Not today. Pepa exhaled slowly. Clear skies, clear skies, clear-Of course he was scared. Who wouldn't be scared to marry Pepa Madrigal? Pepa was crazy. Marrying her meant marrying a hurricane. Chaos and rain and storms, every special occasion ruined by-
"Hey, sis!" Bruno spoke up from beside her. Pepa turned to see Bruno and her face softened in relief. She glanced at Julieta who stood beside him and Pepa smiled, feeling comforted by her siblings' presence.
"You're doing so great!" Julieta whispered, doing a little cheering dance with her arms. Pepa laughed softly.
Bruno grinned, hoping to make her laugh too. Noticing the sweat dripping down the side of Pepa's face, Bruno gestured over to it.
"Hey Pepi - What's that?" He whispered in a playful voice, grinning at his sister. "Looks like rain!"
Julieta elbowed Bruno, but it was too late.
Pepa's expression fell as her eyes stared back at Bruno in terror, her chest heaving and her breathing becoming hard and fast. Rain? Where? How was it raining? She had tried so hard. Stupid rain, stupid Pepa! She couldn't do anything right. She'd ruined everything, again!
The temperature in the church dropped dramatically and the sky outside darkened and rumbled. The crowd murmured nervously, looking around. Abuela watched in horror. It was like Bruno had just pulled open the floodgates, and everything Pepa had been trying to hold in just came flooding out.
Rain poured down from the ceiling like a monsoon, splashing down to the floor and drenching everyone. The townsfolk gasped and cried out. Wind swirled around Pepa in a violent spiral, and gusts of wind howled through the church, knocking down and smashing paintings and candles and ornaments, slamming open the front doors. The stained glass windows smashed and glittered shards of colour down over everyone. Seats toppled over and scattered across the room as people screamed and ran out the doors.
Pepa fell to her knees, her face in her hands as she sobbed in despair. Her hair and veil blew and flapped loosely in the wind as it swirled around her.
"I'm sorry!" Bruno called out desperately to Pepa over the storm, but it was too late.