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The scream Julieta heard come from Mirabel was horrific, she had to turn away from the blinding light the candle blasted as she saw Mirabel reach for it, they all did.
Looking back, Julieta let out a shriek, her baby, her baby who only turned 5 was covered with burn scars, her glasses had fallen off her from the blast.
The adults, her mother, her siblings, her husband, and brother-in-law all stared at her.
Bruno’s once smug expression was quickly replaced with a look of shock before he smirked again.
It was quiet until Alma spoke.
“See! She’s dangerous! Already going after the candle!” Alma put a protective arm around the candle.
Mirabel let out a pained whimpered, in too much pain to scream. “M-Mamí….”
Julieta picked Mirabel up and looked at her face, she gasped, Mirabel’s once chocolate brown eyes were light blue and misty.
“I-I can’t see….” Mirabel whimpered.
Julieta pulled out an arepa from her pocket, she always kept some in case of an emergency, this was one. “Here mija, Mamí will heal you.” She pressed it up against Mirabel’s lips.
Mirabel took a bite and swallowed.
Julieta paled when the scars didn’t disappear and her eyes didn’t return to normal. “I-It didn’t work….”
“See! More proof she’s evil! The miracle has seen what she really is and has left her with a permanent scar for the rest of her life!” Alma hissed. “She’s too dangerous to be here.”
“Dangerous?” Agustín spoke up, recovering from shock. “She’s five—she just turned five!”
“And?! She already went after the candle! She’s being kicked out.”
“What?!” Both Julieta and Agustín shouted, Mirabel began sobbing, from pain, fear, and confusion, she held onto Julieta.
“She is not!” Julieta hissed.
“Very well, let’s take a vote, all in Mirabel leaving raise your hand.” Alma’s hand went up, Bruno’s did too.
Julieta scowled at him, she looked at Pepa and Félix who were hesitating their answers. “Pepi?”
Pepa raised a hand, looking away, to not see Julieta’s face. “I have to think of my own children, Julieta.”
Félix raised his hand, he didn’t speak.
Julieta put a arm around Mirabel’s back while holding her. “No, no, none of you are kicking my baby out.”
“Over my dead body are you sick people doing that to her.” Agustín put an arm in front of Julieta. “She’s a child.”
“You saw what she did!” Alma argued. “She’s dangerous.”
“Sis….” Pepa reached a hand out to Julieta. “It would be for the best, think of your other two daughters.” Pepa touched her arm, almost touching Mirabel.
Julieta reacted before she could even think, she punched Pepa in the nose, a crack was heard as Pepa stumbled over holding her face.
“Pepa!” Félix cried out.
“Ow!” Pepa cried out, a thundering cloud above her appeared.
Mirabel sobbed. “Mamí!”
“Mamí has you.” Julieta cooed. “Mamí is here, your safe baby.”
“Julieta!” Alma shouted. “What is wrong with you?!”
“What’s wrong with me?” Julieta laughed. “What’s wrong with you?”
“You attacked your sister!”
“She is no sister of mine.” Julieta hissed. “Agustín, get the girls, don’t grab anything, we’ll get that later, we’re leaving.”
“What?!” Alma shouted. “You can’t leave!”
“We can, their my children.” Julieta kissed Mirabel and headed off to Luisa’s room while Agustín went to Isabela’s.
Julieta barged into Luisa’s room. “Luisa!”
Luisa yawned and rubbed her eyes. “Mamí?”
“Wake up mija, we need to go.” Julieta said, pulling the covers off Luisa.
“What-”
Julieta pulled Luisa up. “Get your slippers on, okay? Grab a blanket or something.”
Luisa blinked.
Julieta grabbed some of Luisa’s slippers and put them on her. “Grab something for the night, go to your Papí afterwards, okay?”
“I….okay.” Luisa rubbed her eyes before staring at Mirabel. “What-”
Julieta left and headed to the nursery, ignoring Alma and the others talking to each other.
Julieta set Mirabel on the bed, boxes around the room for what were going to be moved into Mirabel’s new room.
Mirabel sniffled.
“Oh baby.” Julieta brushed back curl on Mirabel’s head. “It’s okay Mamí has you.”
“Sorry Mamí….”
“Don’t be….why did you go grab the candle?”
“….I….don’t know….”
Julieta didn’t push further, even though she wanted to. “Okay….lets change out of your dress and put you in your nightgown, okay? We’ll come get all your stuff later.”
“Does Abuela hate me?”
Julieta didn’t respond, she didn’t know how to, she simply undressed Mirabel and put her in a nightgown with her slippers, she wrapped a blanket around her.
Mirabel sniffled
“Mamí has you, okay? Mamí is here.” Julieta soothed as she lifted Mirabel up and held her close to her and left the nursery.
Agustín was waiting with Isabela and Luisa, Isabela looked concerned and confused, Luisa was holding her unicorn plush toy tightly.
“Mamá? What’s going on?” Isabela asked.
“I’ll tell you later, right now we’re going to leave Casita for a bit.”
“I forbid it!” Alma shouted.
“I don’t need your permission to leave.” Julieta said, grabbing Isabela’s hand with her free one and began heading downstairs.
“Julieta!”
Agustín grabbed Luisa’s hand and followed his wife.
“Julieta!”
Julieta opened the doors and looked back. “Your all dead to me.” She left and the doors closed behind her and Agustín.
They all stood there, shocked.
Pepa’s cloud grew bigger and bigger till it began to rain over the Encanto.
“Pepa, the cloud.” Alma said.
“Sorry Mamá.” Pepa mumbled.
As she tugged onto her braid, Félix rubbed her back.
It was quiet besides the thundering.
Bruno looked at the vision in his hands, he smirked, his life was just about to get better.
-T-
Agustín opened the door to the inn, his wife and daughters walked in.
They unfortunately got drenched by the rain, Mirabel was protected by the blanket though.
“I’m cold.” Isabela said softly.
“Okay.” Julieta placed Mirabel on the bed, letting the blanket fall down.
Isabela and Luisa stared.
“What….what happened?” Isabela asked softly, staring at the scars and Mirabel’s misty eyes.
Julieta didn’t respond for a moment. “Something bad, your Abuela, Tía, and Tíos wanted to do something bad with Mira, and she got hurt.”
“What?” Both Isabela and Luisa asked, confused.
“We had to leave, we can’t stay in Casita now.” Julieta said.
Both Isabela and Luisa looked upset and scared.
“It’s okay girls.” Julieta soothed hugging them both. “It’ll be okay, let’s get dry now, okay?”
They didn’t respond as Julieta went to the bathroom and grabbed some towels wrapping them around Luisa and Isabela.
“Dry off girls.” Julieta said before heading to Mirabel.
“Mamí?”
“Mamí is here.” Julieta picked her up. “Mamí has you.”
Mirabel held onto Julieta’s top as she sniffled
“It’s okay Miraboo.” Agustín sat next to Julieta. “It’s okay.”
Mirabel only sniffled.
Julieta rubbed Mirabel’s head. “We’ll work this out.”
“Can she see?” Isabela asked getting onto the bed.
“I can’t….it’s all blurry….” Mirabel said. “Mamí it’s blurry, where are my glasses?”
“You have them on.”
“Oh….”
“I’m confused.” Luisa said. “She’s….blind?”
“We’ll go to the doctor in the morning.” Julieta said. “For now let’s sleep.”
Agustín picked Mirabel up as Julieta tucked in both Isabela and Luisa into the bed on the left.
Both Isabela and Luisa looked confused but didn’t speak as Julieta put Mirabel on the right bed, holding her close.
Julieta held Mirabel close to her as Mirabel fell asleep in her arms.
“What now?” Agustín asked in a whisper.
“I’m not sure, I’m not going back to Casita while they want my baby kicked out.”
“Right….now what?”
Julieta sighed. “I don’t know.”
“I can call my parents and ask if they can watch over the girls for a bit.”
“Not Mirabel, she needs the doctor, if she’s permanently blind, we’ll need to find a school to help her, a house to accommodate her blindness.”
“Right.”
Julieta sighed holding Mirabel close to her.
She’ll help her daughter.
-T-
Rafeal shunned a light in Mirabel’s eyes.
Nothing.
The only thing he sees is a pupillary reflex.
All tests he did resulted in what he knew, Mirabel was blind.
Her vision wasn’t completely gone, she saw everything in blobs now, nothing would fix her vision.
Besides the scarring, the blindness, Mirabel was fine, well not entirely fine.
She was blind.
“Well?” Julieta asked.
“She’s blind.”
Julieta and Agustín frowned, Mirabel was blind now.
“Permanently?” Agustín asked hopefully that it wasn’t permanent.
“Yes.”
Mirabel’s feet dangled from where she was sitting, she swung them back and forth.
“What can we do?” Julieta asked.
“Well….she’ll need a better education because of her disability, and the Encanto is very….bias.”
“….are you suggesting we move?”
“Well, you can, or hire a teacher to move to the Encanto.”
Julieta and Agustín looked at each other.
“I’ll….leave you be now.” Rafeal left.
“Mamí?” Mirabel looked around.
“Mamí is here.” Julieta picked Mirabel up and put her in her lap.
Mirabel snuggled into Julieta.
“We can send the girls to my folks for a bit.” Agustín said.
“And then do what?”
“Figure something out, we can leave the Encanto or find a house to accommodate Mirabel's needs.” Agustín said.
Julieta sighed. “This is all happening too fast.”
“I know.”
“Isa, Luisa, and Mira, we’d need a place big enough for them, and now that Mira is blind….” Julieta groaned.
“Let’s send the girls to my folks for a bit.” Agustín said. “My parents would love to see them again, we’ll figure something out.”
“Okay….”
“Mamí?” Mirabel questioned, grabbing onto her skirt and gripping it.
“Yes? What is it, baby?”
“Am I bad?”
“What? No baby, why do you ask that?” Julieta asked.
“I tried to destroy the candle, then it….hurt me, Abuela said I’m evil.”
“Oh baby, you're not.”
“But Abuela said I am.” Mirabel sniffled.
“No baby, never.” Julieta kissed Mirabel’s head. “Abuela is….”
“Not thinking straight.” Agustín said. “That’s all.”
“Okay….”
Julieta rubbed back Mirabel’s hair. “It’s okay, it’ll be okay.”
Mirabel held onto Julieta’s waist, sniffling.
“Say what, let’s get your sisters and get ice cream, okay?” Julieta smiled.
“….okay.”
Julieta stood up holding Mirabel close. “That’s my girl.”
Agustín kissed Mirabel’s head. “It’ll be okay Miraboo, we promise.”
-T-
“I don’t want to go!”
“Me neither!”
Julieta sighed. “Girls-”
“Why can’t we stay?” Isabela asked. “We can help move.”
“Girls, it’s complicated.” Agustín said. “It’d be best if you went to my folks for a bit.”
“No!” Mirabel wailed. “No!”
Julieta sighed, this would be hard to explain to Nina and Miguel.
And the girls weren’t making it any easier.
“It’s only for a few days at most.” Agustín tried soothing.
“No!” Mirabel wailed starting to throw a tantrum.
“Let’s us stay.” Luisa said. “Please!”
“Lu, it’s best, we’ll pick you up later.”
Isabela and Luisa looked upset but didn’t argue.
Julieta picked Mirabel up as she wailed, she sat on the bed.
Mirabel held onto Julieta sobbing.
Julieta rubbed her back. “It’ll be okay, everything will be fine.”
Mirabel wailed into Julieta. “I don’t want to go!”
Julieta rubbed her back. “I promise it’s only for a few days baby, then you’ll be back with Mamí.”
Mirabel sniffled. “Promise?”
“Yes, I promised you’ll be back with Mamí baby.”
Mirabel seemed calmed down for a bit, she still held onto Julieta.
Luisa crawled up on the bed next to Julieta and hugged her side, not speaking.
“Don’t worry Luisa, you all will be back after a few days.”
“Okay.”
Isabela hesitantly walked up, seeming to want the same comfort but unsure.
Julieta used her free hand to caress Isabela’s face. “Don’t worry Isa, I promise to call you girls every night.”
Isabela didn’t respond but held onto Julieta’s hand.
Julieta smiled, for now everything was okay.
-T-
Julieta grabbed the boxes from Mirabel’s room, good thing that Mirabel’s stuff was already packed, if would take longer for Isabela’s and Luisa’s stuff to get packed up and taken out.
Alma was glaring at her and Agustín as they took all of Mirabel’s stuff and put it on a wagon, not speaking but glaring.
They both ignored her.
Alma wasn’t their concern.
Agustín had to explain what happened to his parents who were horrified at seeing Mirabel scarred and blind.
They said they’d watch the girls till they could come back home.
Julieta grabbed the last box in the nursery. “Now to start packing Luisa and Isa’s rooms.”
“Yes, I’ll get started on Luisa’s, you do Isabela’s room.” Agustín said.
Julieta nodded. “Okay, this might take a few days.”
“Well, it’ll take longer to get a house for Mirabel.”
“I’ve been searching and I found one, not far from the girls school, we just have to make some fixes.”
“What about school?”
“I’m not sure….we can figure it out later.” Julieta sighed.”
“Right.”
Alma watched growling.
Julieta can’t take away Isabela and Luisa, they need to stay in Casita, they belong here.
Mirabel doesn’t, not anymore, not after she tried to attack the candle.
She was dead to her.
Surely she can convince Julieta to just bring Isabela and Luisa back, Mirabel can go with some traders, or go live with Agustín’s parents, anywhere but here.
Pepa was staying in her room since Julieta came back, she wasn’t going to see her, Julieta didn’t care.
Julieta only focused on getting all their stuff out of this place and moving into their new home.
It should only take a few days, two weeks at most.
Julieta began to pack Isabela’s belongings into a box, clothes, bedding, toys, and her other belongings.
Julieta made a note to check in the attic for anything else that she needed to pack.
The door opened and Julieta looked back.
Bruno.
She grimaced.
“Bruno.”
“Julieta.”
“What do you want?”
“You should just leave Mirabel.”
“Shut up.” Julieta whispered.
“She’s useless, she will cause the candle to burn out! Everything we know will be gone Julieta! Get rid of her!”
“No.” Julieta stood up. “I’m not going to abandon my daughter over your vision.”
“Julieta, you are throwing everything away, and for what?”
“For my daughter.”
“She is not worth it.”
“….what happened to you? You weren’t like this, how could you change within a few days?!”
“That is none of your business.” Bruno said. “None, but simply I got Mamá’s attention finally.”
“Are you serious?” Julieta scoffed, taping up the box. “You're pathetic.”
“You're pathetic.”
Julieta growled but didn’t respond.
“Mirabel isn’t worth it.”
“Speak to me again I will stuff a rolling pin down your throat.” Julieta hissed.
“Come on-”
“Out. Now.”
Bruno scoffed and left.
Julieta rolled her eyes, as far as she knows now, Bruno is dead, like Alma and her sister.
They are all dead to her.
Her daughter mattered more than them, Mirabel was her priority now, now and forever.
Alma can shove the candle up her ass.
-T-
Agustín looked over his shoulder, the girls were sound asleep in the back of the wagon after finally picking them up.
Julieta sighed, it had been a long week, getting a house, having to pay people to make the accommodations for Mirabel’s need, people literally harassing her over her stand not being open.
Everything they had moved out was moved into their new home, they still had to go back to Casita to grab a few things but that’s it, then they were done with Casita.
Forever.
She and Agustín talked, they needed jobs to get money and provide for their family now, Julieta could easily sell her arepas for money, an easy way to make money with how dependent the townspeople were in her gift.
Agustín needed to get an actual job, he was asking anyone who needed a worker, but with Agustín's clumsiness it wasn’t helping him look like a reliable worker.
Julieta said he could stay home, look after the girls, help Mirabel. Agustín was thinking of it, Mirabel would need a lot of help now because of her blindness.
He’ll decide soon.
For now, he had his daughters and wife, that’s all that mattered to him.
-T-
“We live here now?” Mirabel asked.
“Yes.” Julieta smiled. “It’s our new home.”
“What about Casita?” Mirabel asked.
“Casita….it doesn’t matter baby.” Julieta said. “You have a room that’s big enough for you not to bump into anything baby.”
Mirabel didn’t respond.
Agustín was currently showing her sisters around the new house and their rooms.
Julieta had to introduce everything to Mirabel, where the doors were, where the walls were, where kitchen was, where her room was, where the bathroom was.
Julieta prayed that Mirabel won’t have a difficult time adjusting to this, she doesn’t want her baby to struggle.
“When are we going back to Casita?” Mirabel asked.
“….we can’t.”
“Why?”
“It’s….it’s not safe.”
“Why?”
“It’s….complicated.”
Mirabel didn’t understand as Julieta showed her everything around the house, the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom, her room, and some weird stuff that would help her ‘navigate’ around the house which she still doesn’t understand, she can see, it’s just all blurry.
Mirabel sighed, she wants to back to Casita.
-T-
“One last trip, one last trip.” Julieta muttered to herself.
“Are you angry Mamá?” Isabela asked.
“No, I’m just….anxious, that’s all, Amor.” Julieta said.
Isabela shrugged, she wanted to say bye to Dolores, yes they weren’t leaving the Encanto but still moving out of Casita, away from her best friend, she couldn’t just leave without saying bye properly.
She begged Julieta to take her, Julieta didn’t want to but she couldn’t just deny Isabela to say goodbye to Dolores.
All Julieta needed to do was grab stuff from the attic and leave after letting Isabela and Dolores say goodbye to each other.
She hoped Alma won’t make it too hard.
They entered Casita.
Right now everyone should be home.
“Go see if Dolores is in her room, okay?” Julieta told Isabela. “I’ll be in the attic getting some last things, okay?”
“Okay Mamá.” Isabela went to Dolores’s room, she knocked on the door, she hoped Dolores was in her room.
She had to be, right?
The door opened and Dolores poked her head out. “Isa?”
“Lola.” Isabela hugged Dolores, she missed her best friend.
“Where have you been?” Dolores asked. “After Mira’s….birthday you were gone.”
“We left….went to see our other Abuela and Abuelo, Mamá and Papá bought a house, oh and Mira is blind now.”
“Wait what?”
“Yeah, she’s blind.” Isabela said. “She became blind cause of Abuela.”
“Abuela said Mirabel was bad, so she can’t live here anymore.” Dolores said.
“Mamá said Abuela is bad.” Isabela said, confused.
“Weird….are you coming back?”
“I don’t think so….” Isabela said sadly.
“Oh….”
“I can ask Mamá if I can come over.” Isabela said hopefully.
“Maybe….”
“I’ll ask Mamá.” Isabela took Dolores’s hand and left Dolores’s room.
“You put that back!”
“It is my property so therefore it belongs to me.”
“Put it back!”
Isabela and Dolores watch as Alma shouted at Julieta.
“Put it back Julieta!”
Julieta came down with a box full of books and papers. “No.” She set the box down, seeing Isabela she smiled. “Oh Isa, you won’t believe what I found.”
“What’s with the papers?”
“Oh just some important documents and some photographs I can’t leave behind.” Julieta said. “But I found one of your very old friends.”
Isabela looked confused, Dolores did as equally confused.
Julieta reached into the box and grabbed a doll. The doll had red hair, wearing a red and white pattern dress, and Isabela immediately recognized the doll.
“Annabelle?”
Julieta nodded. “I found her near the photographs.”
Isabela took her doll smiling while hugging her. “Oh Annabelle, I missed you!”
Alma fummed and snatched the doll away. “Isabela you are no longer a child you don’t need a doll anymore.”
“Annabelle!” Isabela cried out. “Give her back! Please!”
“Enough-” Alma was shut up by a slap, Julieta took the doll back, Alma glared at her.
“Never, touch my daughter's things again.” Julieta gave the toy back to Isabela who gripped into the doll tightly. “Come on baby, let’s go.”
“….okay.” Isabela hugged Dolores, whispering something to her before she followed Julieta as they left Casita for the last time.
Alma growled, Dolores stood back, she swallowed nervously and tried to turn around.
“Dolores?”
Dolores swallowed nervously again. “Yes Abuela?”
“I don’t want you to go near them again, am I understood?”
“….”
“AM I UNDERSTOOD?!”
“Y-Yes Abuela.” Dolores shook nervously.
“Good.” Alma walked off.
Dolores sighed to herself, she doesn’t know what to do, maybe she could ask her Mamí and Papí for some help.
Or her Tío.
-T-
3 years later
Isabela finished wrapping up the present, Dolores would be turned 15 soon, she did two weeks ago.
A small party, just her and her sisters, parents, and another grandparents, no friends, not like she had any.
Isabela lost her popularity over one night, thanks to Alma, she spread lies about her family.
About her baby sister.
About her mother.
About her father.
And they all bought it! Dolores was never allowed near Isabela, Dolores became the popular girl, Dolores took her friends.
Isabela doesn’t blame Dolores, the looks Dolores gives her of sadness and disappointment, she hates it.
Dolores didn’t want the popular group, they were too loud for her, but no one cares, no one but her and her family.
Isabela put the bow on the red present. “Done.”
Agustín pulled out a tray of cookies. “What’s done?”
“Dolores’s birthday gift.”
“Oh what is it?”
“Oh you’ll see.”
“Oh?”
Isabela smiled. “I’ll give it to her at school tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
Agustín chuckled, taking his cooking mittens off. “Well I’m certain she’ll enjoy it.”
“She will.”
The sound of a cane clicking made them look up.
Mirabel touched the walls, guiding her. “When’s Mamá going to be home?”
“She’ll be home soon.” Agustín said. “But I made cookies.”
Mirabel rolled her eyes. “I want Mamá.”
“I know.”
“Poor baby, you what a baba?” Isabela teased.
Mirabel turned her head to Isabela and lifted her cane, Agustín took it.
“Mirabel.”
“I was joking!” Mirabel laughed. “I was only going to tap, just tap….yeah.”
“Even blind and she’s annoying.” Isabela rolled her eyes.
“Hmp.”
“But Dolores’s gift is done.”
“Did you put my present inside?” Mirabel asked.
“Yes, I did.”
“Good.”
“I’ll tell her it’s from me, you, and Luisa.”
Mirabel smiled. “I’ll be in my room, reading.”
“Alright Miraboo.”
Isabela put the present on the table. “Don’t touch that, please.”
“I won’t.”
“Thanks, I’m going to shower now.”
“Dinner will be done soon.”
“Okay Papí.”
Agustín grabbed the cookies and put them in a jar.
Julieta should be home soon.
And Luisa.
Luisa likes to spend her time with the donkeys, which is weird, but apparently Luisa likes the donkeys, oh well if it makes Luisa happy she can be happy.
Julieta walked into the house, putting her basket down.
“How was it?”
“The usual.”
“Yep, whiny men complaining that I charge them.”
“It’s been 3 years.”
“I know you think they’d stop by now.”
Agustín shook his head. “Well dinner will be done soon, you relax.” He kissed Julieta’s cheek.
“Thank you Amor.” Julieta smiled.
“Mamá?”
Julieta turned around, seeing Mirabel she smiled. “Oh baby, Mamá is home.”
Mirabel smiled going straight to Julieta. “I missed you.”
“Mamá missed you too.”
“Señora Sofia is saying my writing has gotten better!” Mirabel smiled.
“It has?”
“It has! I can write without it being shaky!”
“Oh good job Mirabel.” Julieta kissed Mirabel, Mirabel smiled. “I’m so happy for you.”
Luisa walked in. “Hi Mamá, hi Papí.”
“Donkeys again?” Mirabel asked.
“Yes.”
“Why the donkeys again?”
“They're nice.” Luisa shrugged.
“If you say so Amor.” Julieta kissed Luisa’s head.
“Dinner will be done soon.” Agustín said.
“Ooh yum!”
…
Few days later
The dinner table was filled with forks clinking against plates as the cold side of the family ate dinner.
Isabela gave Dolores the present before school ended and she hoped Dolores likes it.
Right now Dolores should be having a party.
“I wish we could at least see Dolores.” Luisa said.
“Me too.” Mirabel said. “I miss her, and Milo too.”
“I know girls.” Julieta said.
There was knocking on the door.
Agustín blinked and got up. “Who could be here at this hour?” He opened the door.
Dolores was standing there, shaking, her head hung down.
“….Dolores?”
Dolores looked up, her eyes red, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Tí-Tío….h-he….” She was cut off with a sob.
“Woah, woah, Dolores what’s wrong?” Agustín asked.
Julieta walked over, confused. “Agsutín? Dolores?”
Dolores sobbed, hugging herself. “Tía….”
Julieta pulled Dolores inside. “Sweetheart what’s wrong?”
Dolores only sobbed.
Julieta blinked confused, wasn’t Dolores supposed to be at her party?
“Dolores, what’s wrong?” Julieta pulled Dolores into a hug, Dolores hugged Julieta tightly, sobbing.
“Mamá? What’s wrong?” Isabela asked from the table.
“Dolores?” Julieta picked Dolores up easily and set her on the couch. “What is it sweetie?”
“B-Bruno….h-he….” Dolores began sobbing again.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay, take a deep breath.” Julieta rubbed Dolores’s back.
Dolores choked on her sobs.
She was shaking violently.
“Get some tea with lavender oil.” Julieta said.
“Okay.” Agustín went to the kitchen.
Julieta rubbed Dolores’s back as the girl sobbed, she sat next to her.
Dolores sobbed as she held onto Julieta.
The girls watched, confused and concerned.
Julieta waited as Dolores’s sobs turned to sniffles. “Are you okay Dolores?”
“Tío….”
“What happened?”
Dolores didn’t respond.
“Dolores what happened?”
Agustín came back with some tea. “Here Dolores.”
Dolores took the tea with shaky hands and drank it and one gulp.
Julieta and Agustín looked at each other.
“Girls go to your rooms.” Agustín said.
“But what about Dolores?” Isabela asked.
“Now.”
The girls looked at each other before getting up and going to their rooms once the doors closed Julieta and Agustín looked at each other.
“Sweetie, what’s wrong?”
Dolores took a shaky breath. “….Bruno touched me.”
…
The Next Day
Bruno walked out Casita, with a grin.
Another great day of being The Bruno Madrigal, his life changed forever since that vision.
He was popular, girls lined up for him, he had it all, the looks, the rich, and the gift.
Unlike Mirabel, ha! Loser.
Bruno only took one step out of Casita’s doors when a slipper hit his head. “Ow!”
Julieta stood by, fuming.
“What the hell?!” Bruno growled.
“You.” Julieta spat.
“Yeah? And?”
“How could you do that?! Your own niece?!”
“What the hell are you talking about?!”
“You fucking touched Dolores last night you pedophile!”
“Calm down.” Bruno rolled his eyes. “It was an accident.”
“She told you to stop, many many times, but you continued to touch her.”
“I was drunk!”
“That’s no excuse, she's a child!”
“She’s basically a woman now.”
“So that excuses what you did?”
“Well-”
“No! It doesn’t!” Julieta growled. “If I ever hear of you touching Dolores again Bruno, I will stab you and cut your throat, understand me?”
“You’ll go to jail.” Bruno smirked.
“Not if I hide the body.”
Bruno scowled. “Fuck off Julieta, your ruining my mood.”
“Good.”
“Go back to your demon child.”
“Fuck you!”
Bruno walked off as Julieta took deep angry breaths.
Fucking Bruno.
She hates him.
“….Julieta?”
Julieta turned around to see Pepa.
Pepa had a cloud above her.
Already stressed, Julieta frowned. “Pepa.”
“….what are you doing here?”
“Are you aware of something?”
“No?”
“Oh well you should know that Dolores came to me last night.”
“What?”
“She was crying, apparently Bruno touched Dolores inappropriately and Bruno didn’t stop. He was going to kiss her if Dolores didn’t slap him and run.”
Pepa’s cloud grew. “What?”
“Don’t you wonder why Dolores was this morning?”
“….I thought she already went to school.”
“Well she didn’t, she went to my home, slept with me and Agustín, and went to school with my girls.”
Pepa thundered.
“So if I were you I’d keep an eye on Bruno.”
“….”
Julieta smirked suddenly. “How’s Camilo doing in school?”
“….”
“I heard he’s failing, that’s really interesting while my daughter, the one you claimed was evil, is doing really well in school.”
Pepa didn’t respond, she looked away.
“My daughter who is blind, is doing better in school than your son who isn’t blinded.”
“….at least Camilo has friends.”
“At least Mirabel has good grades.”
Pepa growled. “Shut up.”
“You really should help your son, but wait you're too busy being out in the fields.”
Pepa growled her cloud getting bigger.
“Oh well, he can always go to me instead.” Julieta smiled and left.
Julieta sighed to herself, if Pepa doesn’t do something about Bruno she’ll tell Dolores to come to her, she’ll help Dolores with anything, Alma can fuck off.
If Alma lets Bruno be a predator she will protect Dolores, protect her daughters, protect her family.
That’s what family does.
Seems like Alma needs to learn that.
-T-
2 Years Later
Julieta put blankets on the couch.
Dolores and Camilo are coming over, not for a slumber party, no, Pepa was over due for birth, she would give birth any day now.
Julieta still couldn’t believe Pepa got pregnant at 40!
She’s way too old to have another child, especially with the situation with Bruno.
Nothing was done about Bruno touching Dolores, Julieta made reports, it was brushed off, she called CPS and instead CPS got called on her, but that was easy to get rid of.
But no one is protecting Dolores but her and her family!
No one in Casita cares for Dolores but Camilo.
Julieta couldn’t believe how quiet Camilo was when she met him face to face two years ago, it must have been because he lost his “twin”, he and Mirabel acted like one.
But now Camilo couldn’t even look Mirabel in the face now, he was terrified of her, it broke Mirabel’s heart, Julieta consoled her for days.
Camilo is still scared of Mirabel, he won’t tell any of them on why, he just is.
Julieta won’t push even though she wants to, it’s best not to push him, she learned that a while back.
The girls were at school, Julieta sat on the couch sighing.
It would be a very long day when Pepa goes into labor, even then it’ll be longer because Pepa and Félix will have to take care of a baby.
Julieta was already hearing the rumors about her baby, how Mirabel was being replaced, the baby was only to replace Mirabel.
The baby would get a gift, it would prove that the miracle was fine.
Julieta knew it was bullshit, it was an unplanned pregnancy but Alma was overjoyed, saying that this would make the miracle stronger.
Agustín walked in the house holding a basket of supplies.
“Have everything?”
“Batteries, candles, flashlights, fire matches, more blankets, and hot chocolate.”
“The power will go out if the storm gets bad, which it will.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be sure the kids stay warm.”
“Right.”
“I’m glad Dolores agreed to come over with Camilo.”
“Yes, it wouldn’t be safe for her to be alone, in her room, while everyone is busy.”
Julieta scowled. “I should kill him.”
“Julieta.”
“She is a child, Agustín, a child.”
“I know.”
“He won’t leave her alone, no matter how many times Isabela throws cactus at him.”
“I know.”
“I wish he was dead.”
“I know.”
“I’m so proud of Isabela.”
“We both are.”
Julieta smiled slightly.
Suddenly the sound of thunder stuck the sky.
Julieta looked outside, the clouds began to darken and rain began falling.
“Shit.” Agustín said.
“We need to get the kids.” Julieta grabbed her coat. “Now.”
“Yes, let’s go.” Agustín put his coat on and opened the door.
Julieta walked out and Agustín closed the door.
“Of course she goes into birth right now.” Julieta mumbled as she and Agustín sped walk to the school, thank goodness they were not far.
Another parents were making their way to school as well, to collect their children.
Julieta looked around, trying to find her daughters.
“There.” Agustín pointed to her right. “I see them.”
Isabela was holding Luisa’s hand while Luisa held Mirabel, Dolores and Camilo next to them.
“Mis bebés!” Julieta called out.
Her daughters turned to her.
“Mamá!” They all cried out going to her.
Isabela hugged Julieta, Luisa set Mirabel down hugging Agustín while Mirabel hugged Julieta.
Julieta smiled, kissing Isabela and Mirabel, then Luisa last.
“School got canceled once it began to thunder.” Mirabel said.
“I left class to get Mirabel like you said.” Isabela started. “The teacher got mad.”
“Let them be mad, your sister is an important member of our family, you get her and Luisa.”
“I did.”
“Good girl.” Julieta kissed Isabela.
Agustín walked over to Dolores and Camilo. “Hey guys.”
Dolores looked over. “Yeah, we’re coming, I’m just making sure Camilo has his bag.”
Camilo held onto Dolores’s hand. “Is Mamí going to be okay?”
“Yes.” Dolores smiled cupping Camilo’s face. “She’ll be okay, birth is painful.”
“Hm.”
Agustín reached his hand out. “Come on, I’ll make hot chocolate.”
Dolores took his hand. “The power will go out.”
“We have a fireplace.”
“What about Mirabel?” Dolores asked. “Will she be okay with….us being there?”
“It’s all she could talk about since we said that you guys might have to stay over when Pepa gives birth.”
Julieta picked Mirabel up, holding Isabela’s hand. “Okay, let’s go.”
“I’m not a child Mamá.” Isabela complained.
“Your still my child, my baby, my daughter, your never too hold to hold my hand.”
Isabela rolled her eyes.
Thunder struck the ground.
Julieta sighed. “Okay, let’s go now.”
“Agree.” Agustín says as they headed back home.
Mirabel held onto Julieta as they walked back home as a storm grew bigger.
It was getting cold.
Agustín opened the door and let everyone walk in before closing the door.
They were all wet and cold.
“I’ll start a fire.” Agustín said going over to the fireplace.
“I’ll get towels.” Julieta put Mirabel down and left the grab the towels.
It thundered outside loudly.
Mirabel sat down on the couch after finding it. “It’s going to be a long night.”
“Yeah, it will.” Isabela nodded.
“Hopefully we don’t have to go to school tomorrow.” Mirabel chuckled.
Julieta walked in with towels giving them to everyone. “Dry up, can’t let you get sick.”
Dolores took a towel wrapping it around Camilo. “Here, dry off.”
“Thanks Dolores.” Camilo said.
“No problem.”
They all dried off as a fire began to blow brighter.
Agustín smiled. “I’ll make dinner now, you kids relax by the fire.”
“Okay Papí.” Luisa said.
Mirabel laid down on the couch. “Is….Tía going to be okay Mamí?”
“….yes.” Julieta nodded. “She will be okay.”
Dolores didn’t respond, she could hear it all happening, Pepa would be fine, she knows she will.
Camilo leaned against Dolores not speaking, he wanted to be home.
Not here, anyway but here.
With her, with Mirabel.
He doesn’t understand why Dolores trusts them, he probably never will understand.
He just wished to be home.
Thunder stuck once again, Dolores flinched.
“Here Dolores.” Agustín gave Dolores some earmuffs.
“Thanks Tío.” Dolores puts them on and sighs as some sounds get muffled.
“You all just rest.” Julieta said.
Dolores sighed sitting on the floor.
“You two can sleep here.” Julieta said. “If there’s a black out you can sleep with us or Isabela.”
“Okay.” Dolores nodded. “Thank you.”
“It’s no problem Dolores, it’s what family does.” Julieta smiled.
Dolores didn’t respond.
Camilo was quietly leaning against Dolores.
Agustín put a casserole in the oven. “Dinner will be done in a minute, twenty at most.”
“Okay Papá.” Mirabel sat up. “I’m gonna change.”
“Cane.” Isabela handed her cane to Mirabel.
“Thanks.”
“No problem, don’t trip.”
“I won’t.” Mirabel turned around bumping into a wall.
Isabela snickered. “Or any walls.”
“Ow.”
“Oh baby.” Julieta went over and helped Mirabel turn around. “You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, I’ll get you some pajamas to change out of.”
Isabela stood up. “I’ll get you two clothes to change out of.” She left.
“I want to go home.” Camilo whispered.
“It’s too dangerous to go out.” Dolores said. “It’s only for the night.”
“We’re here, with her.”
“Camilo, it’s only Mirabel.”
“Exactly! Mirabel.” Camilo harshly whispered. “Mamí says she’s bad, Abuela does too.”
Dolores didn’t respond.
Isabela returned with some clothes, she gave it to Dolores and Camilo.
Camilo was given some blue pajamas that looked like girl clothing.
“Luisa’s old pajamas, you’d fit.”
“Oh thanks.”
Dolores was given some of Isabela’s spare pajamas. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Mirabel came out in her pajamas. “Finally cozy now.”
Luisa shook her going to her room to change too.
“I’ll make you guys some hot chocolate.” Julieta smiled as she put Mirabel on the couch.
“Thanks Mamí.” Mirabel smiled.
Julieta went to the kitchen and began to make some hot chocolate.
Luisa walked back in. “You guys can use my room to change if you want or the bathroom.”
“Thanks, I’ll change now, Camilo, just wait here.” Dolores got up and left.
Camilo waited patiently.
Dolores returned. “Go ahead and change.”
Camilo got up and left, and soon returned soon after changing into the pajamas he sat right back next to Dolores.
When the hot chocolate was finished, the power went out.
“Oh great it’s dark.” Camilo said. “Now I can’t see!”
“Oh really?” Mirabel asked. “What a shame.”
“….sorry.”
“….well, dinner is done.”
…
“Dolores, you awake?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
Dolores laid in a sleeping mattress with Camilo in Isabela’s room, Camilo was asleep but those two weren’t.
“Can’t sleep?”
“No, you?”
“No.”
Isabela hummed. “You worried?”
“Yeah.”
“About?”
“What if it’s a girl?”
“It’ll be okay Dolores, I promise if it’s a girl, I’ll shove a vine up Bruno’s ass, I would’ve the first time.”
“I just….even if it’s a boy, he still wouldn’t be safe.”
“Alma?”
“Yeah, she’s….”
“Insane.”
“….yeah.”
“It’ll be okay Dolores, I promise.”
“I hope so.”
Isabela went quiet and decided to change the subject. “Well how’s it going with Mariano?”
“….I don’t know what your talking about.”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Isabela smirked.
“….”
“The way you two talk and look at each other, I hope not hear you talk in your sleep.”
“Shut up.”
“Oh Mariano.” Isabela mimicked Dolores. “Kiss me with you smooth lips and your hypnotizing eyes that I get lost in, oh Mariano, please shove your six inch d-”
Dolores threw a pillow at her blushing.
Isabela snickered softly. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop.”
“Screw you.”
“Night Dolores.”
“Good night Isabela.”
-T-
Pepa and the baby survived thank god, she gave birth to a little baby boy, named Antonio, Julieta is glad that the baby is okay but….
She doesn’t like that Pepa makes Dolores take care of Antonio, even though Antonio is only half a year old.
Dolores wasn’t even an adult and taking care of a child that wasn’t her.
Julieta took care of Antonio while Dolores was at school, and after school, she would take care of Antonio so Dolores wouldn’t but she didn’t want to deal with Alma and Pepa.
Mirabel loved Antonio surprisingly, she calls him “pequeño tigre”. At least she was adjusting well to Antonio being here.
She and the rest feared she’d hate him, Alma could only talk about Antonio will bring them a new gift show that the miracle is fine.
It’s all what anyone is talking about, saying her baby is a defect.
She wasn’t.
But Julieta knows what really is going on, it’s happening to her and her daughters too, the magic is fading.
Isabela’s plants are wilting the moment they bloom, Luisa told her that she felt weak sometimes, literally weak, Julieta forbid her from picking anything up.
She wouldn’t risk her daughter getting hurt.
Her gift was working just fine.
But if the miracle was dying, she’ll need to find a job.
She’ll figure something out, she always does.
Right now Antonio was sleeping peacefully in her arms.
Which was good, he was up all night from what Dolores told her.
Julieta really hates Pepa.
-T-
3 Years Later
There were cracks all over in Casita, Alma was denying it all, the doors were flickering, she denied it, the gifts were wreaking, she denied it.
Everything was falling apart.
Casita wasn’t responsive anymore, it was like Casita was never alive to begin with.
Alma stared at the candle that was melting, ever so slowly, as the wax dripped down to the side, Alma didn’t know what was wrong.
What could be wrong so to have cracks in Casita, she prayed that the candle wouldn’t burn out before Antonio gets his gift, if he got his gift then everything would be restored.
Antonio was only four, only one year left.
Alma needed those days to come faster now, because she doesn’t know how much time is left. Every day the cracks get bigger and worse.
Pepa’s gift was weakening, Bruno was getting migraines, Camilo got random shifting moments, he once turned into a man with a baby’s head that had a mustache, Dolores said everything is getting quieter now.
She doesn’t even know what Julieta and those traitors are going through, she refuses to speak to them, especially Mirabel.
The damn demon was causing trouble but how?! She wasn’t even here to ruin her family!
She already ruined Julieta, Isabela, and Luisa, she won’t let her ruin Dolores, Camilo, and Antonio too.
She prayed to Pedro to help her, help her keep the miracle alive, help the family, help her.
She’ll keep it all undercover until then the Madrigals will stay strong.
Right?
Right….right.
-T-
It was too dangerous to stay.
Pepa knew that Alma was denying it, denying it all, but the roof was falling apart, the walls were chipping.
It was dangerous, they had to leave.
“We need to leave.” Pepa spoke up at dinner. “It’s dangerous-”
“We aren’t leaving.” Alma said calmly. “Everything is fine.”
“….a wall collapsed yesterday.”
“We are fine.”
Dolores and Camilo looked at each other.
It was not fine.
“I’m leaving anyway.” Pepa said. “I’m taking my children.”
“Don’t be ridiculous Pepa!” Alma exclaimed. “Casita is safe!”
“It is not!”
“Stop being dramatic, Pepa.” Bruno rolled his eyes. “Everything is fine.”
“Oh please.” Dolores mumbled.
“Oh what was that?” Bruno smirked. “Repeat Dolores?”
Dolores didn’t respond.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
“We’re leaving.” Pepa repeated. “Tomorrow.”
“You're not.” Alma hissed.
“Yes we are.” Pepa glared at Alma. “I’m not going to let my family die because you're too stubborn to admit that it’s not safe here anymore.”
Alma growled. “You're acting like Julieta.”
“So what? Maybe she was right.” Pepa stood up. “She’s been right from the beginning, Mirabel is gone but the candle is starting to burn out! If Mirabel is gone, why is it dying?!”
“I….”
“Antonio getting a gift will not fix this! Why don’t you see it?!” Pepa would be thundering if her door wasn’t dimming out, for once she could let out an emotion without causing any damage.
“It’s all Mirabel’s fault!”
“How?! She’s not even here!”
“She manipulated Julieta and the others!”
“She’s blind! BLIND!”
“She’s a demon! Bruno was right! She would destroy this family!”
“I told you so.” Bruno smirked. “Mirabel only causes trouble.”
“Shut up!” Dolores shouted. “Shut up! You are all idiots!”
Antonio began to cry, the shouting being too much for him.
Camilo grabbed Antonio and held him closely.
“Be quiet Dolores.” Alma demanded.
“No!” Dolores slammed her hands on the table. “I’m done with you guys! You all suck! Tía Julieta was right, Mirabel wasn’t destroying the candle, you were, Alma.”
“Excuse me?!”
“Yeah, you’ve been so focused on the damn candle than your own family! Tía left because she saw it after you tried kicking Mirabel out!”
“Because she went for the candle!”
“She was scared!”
“She would’ve gotten us all killed!”
“You're going to get us all killed if you don’t stop it! You’ve ruined everything.” Dolores was breathing heavily. “You don’t even care what Bruno does because he’s so ‘special’ now because he saw danger.”
“Oh not this again.”
“You don’t even care what he did!”
“It was an accident.” Bruno said.
“Then why do you keep trying to make advances on me?!”
“I haven’t!”
“Yeah, since Isabela hit you with a cactus in the ass!”
“Don’t talk to him like that!” Alma shouted.
“Even now you're still defending him! You refuse to admit what he did was wrong!”
“He did no wrong!”
Pepa touched Dolores’s shoulder but she shook it off.
“And you!” Dolores pointed a finger at Pepa. “You did nothing to help after he assaulted me!”
“I-”
“Julieta did more than you ever did for me!”
“Dolores-”
“You all say Mirabel is evil and Julieta is bad but it’s wrong, you're the bad ones, you twisted the truth about what really happened, told lies, shun your own family, it took me years to realize it but I see it now. Mirabel was never evil, you were.”
“Mija….”
“I’m an adult and I can do what I want, and I’m leaving, Tía and Tío will let me stay at their place or Mariano will, but I’m done here, I’m done being treated like a maid, I’m done living here with you guys.” Dolores stood up and went to leave before pausing. “Milo? Mind waiting here for a bit?”
“Ah, yeah sure.” Camilo nodded.
“Good, stay far away from them, watch over Antonio, I’ll be back for you two.”
“Alright….”
“Dolores wait.” Pepa ran over to Dolores and grabbed her hand. “Mija don’t, please, we’ll leave tomorrow, all of us I swear-”
“No.” Dolores pulled her hand away. “I’m done with your lies, your promises, I am done, I am coming back for my brother.”
“You can’t take them.” Pepa said.
“Yeah, I can’t, but they don’t trust you like how they trust me.” Dolores said calmly. “You may have given birth to Antonio but I raised him, I took care of Camilo more than you did, my brothers trust me more than they trust you, so Pepa have fun with that.” Dolores left Casita.
Leaving Pepa there standing there in shock.
Dolores left, she actually left.
Camilo and Antonio were there quietly.
It would have been raining, heavily, but it wasn’t.
Félix went to Pepa rubbing her back whispering comfort to her but Pepa didn’t listen.
Dolores didn’t raise Antonio, she did, she did, right? She remembers countless nights of Antonio crying or was that Camilo?
Shit, she can’t remember.
Maybe Dolores was right, she knew her sons better than she ever did.
-T-
“So you're staying at Mariano’s for now?” Isabela asked over the phone, painting Mirabel’s nails as she relaxed against pillows.
“Yes, he’s letting me sleep in his room and he’s sleeping on the couch.”
“Okay….”
Dolores sighed. “I can’t do much for my brothers, I realized that now, but I can see them regularly, but Pepa and Félix….”
“Hey I understand, their lack of being present for you has consequences, Mamá says her door is open.” Isabela said. “So is mine.”
“Yeah I know.”
“You could post that novel, it’ll make you money.” Isabela suggested. “Mamá is applying to work in the hospital in case the candle burns out and her gift isn’t usable anymore.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
“For now you should just relax.”
“I plan too, but I’m still worried about my brothers.”
“They’ll be fine.” Isabela said as confidently as she could.
“Camilo and Antonio? Are you sure?” Dolores asked.
“Yeah, totally.”
“….”
“Ask Mirabel.” Isabela shoved the phone to Mirabel.
“Huh?”
“Say that her brothers will be okay.” Isabela urged.
“Them? Alone? Without Dolores?” Mirabel laughed. “Oh Camilo won’t last a day with— OW!” Isabela kicked Mirabel’s side.
“That's not what she needs to hear!”
“You didn’t need to kick me.” Mirabel whined.
“This is really helpful guys.” Dolores said, rolling her eyes.
Isabela snatched the phone away from Mirabel and laughed nervously. “Ignore her, she’s dumb and blind.”
“Hey!”
Dolores sighed. “Thanks anyway.”
“Seriously, Dolores, if you need help just come to me.” Isabela said.
“I will, I will.”
“Good, so you know how’s it going at Casita?”
“A little, my gift is coming and going.”
“What’s happening?”
“Well Pepa and Félix are going to stay in a inn, Camilo is caring for Antonio, Alma is constantly talking to the candle, and Bruno is….doing stuff.”
“Right….”
“Well, I should let you go, it’s late.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, you can talk with Mamá.”
“Yeah.”
“Night Dolores.”
“Night Isabela, told Mira I said goodnight.”
“Will do.” Isabela hung up the phone.
Mirabel was glaring at her.
Isabela stuck her tongue out at her. “Loser.”
“Mamí!”
“I didn’t do anything!”
-T-
Casita was gone.
Alma was gone.
Bruno was gone.
The magic was gone.
It was all gone.
The two died in Casita, Casita was falling apart but Alma refused to leave, Bruno was too stubborn to actually admit anything was wrong.
They died in their sleep, undisturbed in their sleep as Casita fell.
Pepa, Felix, Camilo, and Antonio were safe.
They had already left Casita.
That decision saved their lives.
Now Casita was in ruins, Alma and Bruno’s bodies were retrieved and taken away.
It all happened at night, everyone was asleep, dead of night when the ground began to shake, trees shaking, horses panicking, dogs barking.
It woke up everyone when they heard Casita falling.
Agustín’s and Julieta’s fist reaction was to check on their daughters.
Safe.
Wide awake but safe.
Everyone was fine.
They had to go back to sleep, it was hard because none of them knew what was happening
The very next morning everyone learned what happened.
Casita collapsed with Alma and Bruno inside.
Julieta was watching from a hill under a tree as construction workers cleaned up the mess, the property of Casita was left in Pepa’s hands.
Agustín walked over to Julieta. “How do you feel?”
“Fine, I don’t miss them, they died to me nine years ago.” Julieta said.
“Has Pepa talked to you?”
“No, not yet.”
“Will she be able to handle all this?”
“No.” Julieta shook her head. “Félix won’t either, Alma raised me for that not her, I was supposed to raise Isabela the same after I died but I know how to handle it all, Pepa won’t but I’m out of the will.”
“Right.”
“So either Pepa cracks or she’ll somehow manage it.”
“Which one do you think will happen?”
“I don’t know.” Julieta shrugged. “Are the girls okay?”
“Yes, Isa is watching them, Dolores is over as well with the boys.”
“Okay.”
“Camilo told me that he told Pepa where they're going, so she shouldn’t act surprised if she finds them with us.”
“She probably will.”
“Yeah.”
“Doesn’t matter, I can’t blame her for forgetting, Alma and Bruno are dead, the magic is gone, Casita is gone, we’re now ordinary people with no gifts, it feels like a lot.”
Agustín hugged his wife. “I’m here for you Amor, if you need anything I’m here.”
Julieta smiled as Agustín kissed her. “Thank you, I know you are.”
“Good, know that I’m here for you and our daughters.”
“I just hope Isa and Luisa can adjust better.”
“I’m certain they will.”
“If Luisa forgets and tries to pick something up….”
“She won’t, she’ll be okay.”
“What if they get hurt? I can’t heal them-”
“Then we go to the hospital.” Agustín soothed Julieta. “They will be okay like you’ll be okay.”
Julieta sighed. “I just hope they’ll be okay.”
“They will.”
They both went quiet watching as the ruins of Casita was cleaned up like it was nothing.
“Agustín.”
“Yes?”
“Do you think there was a reason why Mirabel didn’t get a gift?”
“I really don’t know, maybe it saw that all Alma wanted was gifts, stopped seeing her family as family and only as tools for her own use.”
“What if….what if the reason Mirabel didn’t get a gift was because, she didn’t need one?”
“What?”
“Well, Alma didn’t have one, because she was the holder of the candle, if it wasn’t for Casita she probably would’ve lived until Mirabel was an adult.”
“And?”
“What if Mirabel was meant to take over the candle?”
“What?”
“I mean….” Julieta rubbed her hands together. “Alma had no gift and was in charge of the candle, does that mean she would too?”
Agustín was quiet until his eyes widened. “Holy….your right.”
“….Mirabel was supposed to be in charge.”
“She was.”
“And Alma said she was dangerous, said she would destroy the candle.”
“But in the end….”
“It was Alma who destroyed it all.”
They two stared at each in silence, letting the words sink in.
They burst into laughter.
“All these years Alma thought it would be Mirabel!” Agustín laughed, holding his stomach.
“But it was her! Not Mirabel!” Julieta wiped away tears of laughter.
“Oh the kids will eat this up.”
“They will, what a dumb bitch.” Julieta was giggling like a child.
Alma was so stupid, how did none of them see this earlier? It made so much sense now.
It was always going to be Mirabel who would lead the Encanto.
But now.
That wasn’t even a possibility, the Encanto might have to do votes and have candidates up for to run if Pepa won’t be able to lead.
Julieta does hope Pepa managed to lead the Encanto, the townsfolk won’t be able to be leaders.
They survived off of Alma’s “wisdom” for over fifty years, a Madrigal will have to lead.
“Wonder if Pepa will ask for help.” Agustín said.
“She might.”
“Will you?”
“I don’t know.” Julieta shrugged. “I might, might not, if she apologizes maybe.”
“I guess we’ll see.” Agustín held Julieta’s hand.
“I only hope the girls will be okay.”
“They will, they have us.”
Julieta smiled. “They do.”
“We made the right choice to stand up against Alma.”
“We did.”
“I can’t imagine if we didn’t.”
Julieta chuckled. “Mirabel would turn evil and kill us all?”
Agustín snorted. “Yeah, right, like that would happen.”
“Imagine that, evil Mirabel.”
“How though? She’s blind.”
“Yeah but she can read, write, and sew.”
“True.”
“She gets her stubbornness from me.” Julieta smiled.
“She does.”
“Being blind will never stop Mira from getting what she wants.”
“Nothing will ever stop our girl from doing what she needs to do, no matter what it is.”
Julieta leaned against Agustín.
Right now, everything was just fine.
Not perfect, not okay, just fine.
And she hoped it stayed that way.