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Ever since Bruno got his gift back, he was doing visions for his entire family. Maybe it was just him being unable to say no when they asked so politely, but Mirabel wanted to think it was thanks to her. After all, she was the one who believed in him and proved that his visions could have positive outcomes.
The more infuriating and unfair she found it when he refused to predict her own future. When she asked him why, her Tio refused to explain. No justification whatsoever. Which, of course, didn’t stop Mirabel from bringing this topic up every now and then. Preferably, when he least expected it.
This time, she bumped into Bruno on his way back to his room, carrying a glass of water.
“Hola, Tio!” she said cheerfully.
He jumped up, nearly spilling his drink. Mirabel apologized. She did not mean to scare him.
“Oh! – Hola, Mirabel.” He greeted her with a hand wave.
“Got a minute?” the girl asked with no preamble.
Bruno blinked in surprise. It was late. He wasn't expecting to be bothered.
“Um – Yeah, sure. What’s up?”
Mirabel leaned against the wall, trying to look casual. She put her hands behind her back, glancing around the balcony. When she spoke, her voice was clear, even though more quiet than usual.
“You see, Tio, I’ve been wondering… You told everyone in the family how great their future’s gonna be. I mean, you foresaw Luisa’s wedding, Camilo’s acting career, and even Dolores’s first child. None of these were bad omens. So my prophecy won’t be either, right? Because, y’know, why would it be?”
His niece gave him a hopeful look, but the man only shook his head in resignation.
“Oh no, not your vision again! Mirabel, we’ve been through this.”
“I know! I know.” The girl put out her hands defensively, as if she was trying to calm a scared horse. “But maybe you could at least tell me if it’s generally bad… or like less bad…?”
“It’s not that bad, so – so would you drop it alre– Why are you smiling?”
“Ha! I knew it!” said Mirabel triumphantly, pointing a finger at him. He painfully realized his mistake even before his niece added, “You’ve seen my future, haven’t you? What’s it like?”
She jumped forward to stand right in front of Bruno. The girl took his hand in hers, her round brown eyes staring deep into his soul. They were so full of joy and excitement that he found it impossible to say no.
“Okay,” he breathed out with a heavy sigh. “Okay, okay. There is a part I can tell you. One part – understand? And you won’t bother me again. Promise?”
She eagerly nodded, beaming at her Tio. Expectant, waiting.
Bruno gulped. Just watch your tongue, he told himself.
“So, um – Your vision. Yes. This is what I saw, more or less.” He made a dramatic pause. Feeling a little embarrassed to speak directly to the girl, the man stared at their joined hands. “Some time from now, you’ll have eyes for this man. I can't tell you any details, I'm afraid. But I can tell you this – you’ll both be very happy together. However – there are gonna be some… uhm, obstacles along the way, a–and it’s unclear how this all ends. So yeah – um, sorry. I wish it was all positive, like the rest.”
When silence answered him, Bruno's eyes shot back to Mirabel’s. Her only reaction to his revelations was to nod back repeatedly, as she was taking it all in. He caught a glimpse of her biting her lip.
“You can’t tell me who he is, can you?” she asked, her voice cracking slightly.
Her Tio shook his head.
“Nope. Sorry.”
Mirabel nodded one final time, accepting his answer. “It’s okay. Thank you.”
Bruno gave her a comforting smile. He appreciated that his niece didn’t want to push him further, even if she sounded a little disappointed. He felt her letting go of his hand. But before she did, he squeezed her fingers tighter. The man wanted to cheer her up, having decided that there was little risk in revealing just one more detail.
“Please remember this, Mira. By the time you realize you love him? He’ll already love you back – with all his heart.”
The girl stood still, her eyes becoming glassy. Her throat was too constricted to say another word.
Only then, it hit Bruno how much his vision meant to her. The fact that she’ll find love in the end, just like the rest of the Madrigals. That she won’t be all alone – like him. He wished he’d realize her concerns sooner. The man opened his mouth to apologize, just as she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his cheek, giving him a not-so-delicate thank-you kiss.
She rushed away before he could say another word. Alone in the empty courtyard, he absentmindedly raised his hand to touch the place where he felt her lips just a moment ago.
Back in his room, Bruno put his glass away and walked over to his bookshelf. From a secret stash, he took out a transfusive emerald plate. As he lied on his bed, he took another look at Mirabel’s vision.
There she was, standing right in the middle of the frame. Visibly older but equally beautiful. She looked as happy as he’d ever seen her, while she looked back at him. Well, not at him exactly, but at a version of him that her future included. This older Mirabel gazed at Bruno in the same way that his Hermanas stared at their husbands with no kids around. The future Bruno’s arm was around her, and it seemed as if he was about to kiss her.
In his room, the man smiled at the picture before him. His grin was hopeful, anticipating.
“Soon,” he muttered, a quiet promise to them both.