A/N: The first of the many oneshots (I expect) in No Day But Today. All of the oneshots are Mimi-centric, because she's so much fun to write about. Pre-, During-, and Post- RENT. I'll try to update every four days, at the most.
Disclaimer: Let me say three words: I DON'T OWN.
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Marianela is three. She is out walking with Mama, when she sees the inside of a dance studio. The dancers were beautiful, no matter how their faces were. All of their motions were graceful and effortless and passionate, and Marianela wanted part of that. She told Mama, who in turn talked to Daddy, who then signed Marianela up for dance lessons.
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Marianela is five. She is in kindergarten, and the teacher asks for each kindergartener to draw a picture to his or her family. Marianela draws herself and Mama, and when it is her turn to present her picture to the class, she says, "Daddy lives with me and Mama, but he is never really around. If he is, he doesn't do the things daddies are supposed to do."
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Marianela is seven. She lives with Abuela now, because the police sent Mama away. Marianela doesn't understand it all, but she knows that Daddy is dead, Mama had a gun, and there was someone else –a new someone- in the picture. Marianela loves Abuela, though she makes Marianela pray everyday, and made her stop dancing. Abuela believes it is wrong to dance. Marianela believes it is part of her life to dance.
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Marianela is sixteen. In fact, yesterday was her sixteenth birthday. But after nine years of living with Abuela, she can't take it anymore. Marianela packs some of her money and clothes in a small duffel bag and leaves Abuela a note.
"I love you Abuela, but I must go. I have to dance to really live. - Mimi"