Genoveva looked at her reflection without really seeing. She blinked several times to try to clear her head and clang onto the sink as tight as her bones could let her. She was scared.
She took the opportunity to look at herself very carefully. Her bones were yellow, rather than pearly white, like the Riveras. Her hair was the same, but now a little frizzled and messy. She held up her hands and flexed them; they seemed… looser than normal, but that had been a thing for years now.
She knew she was being forgotten for a long time. She just chose not to think about it. When Genoveva first died, she had no family and no regrets, until she knew what happened to people who weren't remembered. But she was determined not to live in fear of dying one day, so she enjoyed each day in the Land of the Dead as much as she could.
She had known she was holding on by a thread. She had known the only ones to tell her stories were a few old villagers in the Andes, telling the folktale of how a monster was killed. She had known she would be forgotten one day, so why was she so scared and sad?
Because she had a reason to exist now.
Genoveva backed into the bathroom wall and sank to the floor. She hugged her knees and took in several deep breaths. The sudden burst of pain was gone, but she still hurt. She wasn't ready. She wanted to stay with Miguel and Imelda and Hector and everyone else. She wanted to meet Elena and anyone else who came along. She wanted to be a part of her new family.
She blinked away her tears and a sudden thought made her jump up to look in the mirror again. Was she really…? Was she just…?
"This isn't you." She thought to herself and turned on the faucet. "Say it to yourself."
She cupped some water into her hands.
"You're being forgotten."
She splashed her face.
"You're being forgotten."
She splashed her face again and wiped it of water.
"I'm being forgotten." She muttered out-loud and splashed herself with water one last time.
Genoveva grabbed the fluffy hand towel and wiped her skull dry with it. She had always lived her days to the fullest, and today would be no exception.
She left the bathroom and Victoria went in to take a shower. Genoveva walked into the kitchen to find Julio, Coco, Rosita, Oscar and Felipe, and Imelda sitting at the table, all sipping coffee and listening to Julio read a newspaper out-loud. Genoveva listened and could hear Miguel and Hector playing by the front steps. She knew just what to do and went down the hall again.
A new moments later, Hector and Miguel entered the home as everyone but Rosita was leaving for the workshop (she went into the kitchen). Genoveva came out from the hall and went up to Miguel with something behind her back.
"Hola, Miguel. Hola Papa Hector."
"Hola, Genoveva!" They both said.
"Any plans, mariachi?" Genoveva asked her best friend.
Miguel shook his said. "Nope."
"Good." Genoveva threw Miguel's blue hoodie at him and headed for the door. "Vamonos, amigo!"
"Where are you two off in such a hurry?" Imelda asked as she joined her husband, all while Miguel slipped on his jacket.
"We are going to live today like it's our last!" Genoveva said confidently and opened the door for Miguel.
"Alright, just be home by dinner!" Imelda called after them.
"Love you, Mama Imelda! Love you, Papa Hector!" The two tenagers called and closed the door and ran down the stairs.
"So, what are we going to do?" Miguel asked as they ran down the street.
"The question isn't 'what are we going to do', the question is 'what aren't we going to do'." Genoveva answered and dove right into the river.
"OY!" Miguel yelled from the side of the bridge.
Genoveva's head poked out of the water and yelled, "Come on, muchacho!"
Not wanting to get his guitar wet, Miguel climbed down all seven flights of stairs and ran alongside the river while she swam. When he reached a safe place to put his guitar, he jumped right in and joined Genoveva in the water's depths.
All day, the two ran around and had fun in the city. They spent every day like that, but today was probably the most fun they had had in awhile. After swimming in the river, the two went to the plaza and played for all the underworld to hear, joined by many applause and dancing couples.
Genoveva treated them both to churros and soda and they joked and laughed as they ate their treats. Miguel opened his can and the fizzy drink sprayed all over his face. Genoveva laughed at first, but after seeing how pissed he was, she shook her own soda and opened it so she was sprayed, too, causing Miguel to snort into a fit of laughter.
After that, they climbed in the jungle and came across Pepita. Miguel's eyes big and shining, he pulled Genoveva up on the giant cat and Miguel flew them up into the air. Genoveva clang onto Miguel at first, but then let go and held her hands out.
"Look, Mama!" She called. "No hands!"
Miguel laughed and let go as well. Pepita did a flip, loosing them for a moment, but caught them right as she flew up right. Miguel and Genoveva laughed to their hearts content and Pepita flew them right to Miguel's street. Peptia let them down and Imelda ran out of the house to say hello to her spirit-guide. The teenagers walked out to the shoe-shop to find Oscar, Felipe, Julio and Victoria all working.
"Hola, Miguel. Hola, Genoveva." Julio greeted while hammering at a shoe gently.
"Hola, Papa Julio." They greeted and sat at a pair of stool to watch the adults work.
"Did you have a good day?"
Miguel and Genoveva nodded. "I don't think I've ever had so much fun in one day!" The musician said happily.
"Whoa, hold on, muchacho." Genoveva said, punching his shoulder. "The day's not over yet!"
Soon the adults closed up for the day and led Miguel and Genoveva back into the house. When the young explorer walked into the bathroom to wash her hands, she felt herself ache terribly one again and she glowed and almost seemed to fall apart. She fell to the floor and tried to breathe and keep it together. Just as quickly as it came, it was gone.
"Genoveva," Hector called from the hall and knocked on the door. "Are you alright, niña?"
Genoveva tried to calm her voice. "Yeah, just dropped the soap."
"Okay, try not to destroy the bathroom." He joked and walked off.
Genoveva held her head and thanked God that no one had seen her body try to fade and that she somehow managed to lie her way out of that one. She forced herself to stand and washed her hands well with warm water. She felt a little bit better and was able to pretend that everything was fine as she walked to the kitchen.
Dinner was delicious as ever, full of good food and stories. Miguel excitedly told the family all he and Genoveva did, but she was happy to listen to what the adults did, even if it was as boring as just making shoes. After dinner, Genoveva helped Rosita and Imelda clean up and when challenged to a game of checkers by Oscar she happily accepted and played a game with him.
Felipe whispered hints to his brother so often, Genoveva felt like it was two against one, but did not complain and only smiled when Oscar won. She denied the offer to play again and Felipe took her chair and the twins played a new game.
Genoveva walked outside at the front door and found Hector and Miguel playing music and singing happily together. She sat by them and listened happily, breathing in the cool night air and looking up at the stars. After their song, Hector asked Genoveva how much she knew and Miguel gave her his guitar to demonstrate.
She played relatively love notes and softly began to sing for her family.
"Solo tengo esta noche. "Solo tengo estas manos
Solo tengo este momento.
Mañana, cuando salga el sol,
No puedo prometer que estaré aquí.
Así que esta noche,
¿No vas a bailar conmigo?
Para abrazarte,
Y este par de pies izquierdos
No son aptos para bailar.
Pero esta noche, solo esta noche,
¿No vas a bailar conmigo?"
Miguel smiled at Genoveva and sand while she played.
"Querida Señora bajo la luna,
Qué daría por tu coraje.
Aunque no tengo oro para dar,
Mi corazón es igual de puro.
Así que esta noche,
Tendré este baile contigo."
Hector smiled proudly at how far of an artist she had come. Genoveva gently plucked at the strings and Miguel stood and held out his hand. Genoveva put the guitar down, but Hector picked up right where she left off so they could dance to their song. Together, the two ran down the stairs and danced on the street as they sang.
"As the stars watch from above
And dance along with us,
I know once they are gone,
So is our time together.
So tonight, just tonight,
Won't you dance with me?
I don't care where we are:
In a ballroom or stuck in a well;
For if you're in my arms,
I'll feel like a Queen/King!
"And so…
"I have only this night.
All I have is this moment.
Tomorrow, when the sun rises,
I can't promise I'll be here.
So tonight, only tonight,
Won't you dance with me?"
Miguel was sound asleep, lying on his side, his chest rising and declining steadily. Genoveva smiled at his sleeping form, extremely cautious not to wake him. She could feel it coming, like a storm, and wanted to make sure Miguel would be okay. She hesitated, then bent down and kissed him on the cheekbone.
"I'll miss you, Miguel."
She turned to his little desk and saw his notebook. Genoveva opened it to see the next blank page, careful not to read anything. When she found a good spot, she sat at the chair and borrowed a pencil. Was she sure she wanted to do this?
Genoveva took in a deep breath and began to write.
The sun had just risen. It was barely visible past the buildings. Hector opened the front door, his guitar in hand, and breathed in the fresh, crisp morning air. It smelled damp and was cool. Perhaps it would rain later today. He sat on the front steps and tuned his guitar.
Imelda, meanwhile, sat up in bed and saw that she was in her bedroom alone. She smiled and shook her head and got up to get dressed, wondering if she would join Hector later. Most likely.
One by one, the Riveras got up and were ready to start the day. The teenagers usually got up last, but normally, Genoveva was up first, and Miguel was last. That is why he was surprised to walk into the kitchen and find her missing from the table. He snuck back into the hallways before he was seen by his family and thought of maybe trying to write a new song.
But, something didn't feel right. He had a sickening feeling in his non-existing gut and decided to check on his friend. He walked quietly to her door and knocked on it.
"Veva?" He asked in a low voice, in case she had just woken up. "Veva, you up?"
There was no answer. Did she leave early this morning? Miguel put his head against the door to listen. A few seconds later and he barely picked up the sound of shuttering and a groan of pain.
"Veva!"
Miguel decided it was best to invade her privacy and opened the door. He gasped at finding Genoveva dressed but on her hands and knees on the floor by her bed, shaking and glowing. It looked like she had tried to get up, but was stopped by the sudden burst of pain.
"Veva!" Miguel ran to her and tried to swallow the lump in his throat. "You're fading? Why didn't you tell me?!" He yelled in frustration and grief as helped her back up on the bed.
"What was the point?" Genoveva asked weakly as Miguel helped her to sit against the headboard. "There's nothing we can do. I just wanted… I just wanted to have some fun."
Miguel knelt by the bed and held her hand. Genoveva had always used each day as a chance to have an adventure and live it to the fullest. She was the liveliest dead person he'd ever known, and it was heartbreaking to see her so weak and in so much pain.
"Veva," He said quietly. "You… you're my best friend. I can't… I don't want you to go."
Genoveva looked at him sadly. "I don't... want to go. In life... when I died... I had left... nothing behind. This... isn't like that... at all."
Miguel smoothed her hand and tried to keep any tears from forming; he didn't want to make Genoveva feel any worse that she already did.
"I love you, Miguel." She said weakly, hardly audible. "I always have… I'm honored… to call you… mi amigo."
"I love you, too." Miguel said with a smile.
Genoveva smiled, too, and she glowed with a sharp intake of breath and she shuttered.
Miguel's eyes widened in panic and he stood and held her hand tighter. "Veva! Genoveva!"
All she could do was wait until the pain stopped and she ceased glowing. Just for a moment, just one more moment.
Miguel turned to look at the doorway and yelled for help. "Papa Julio! Tia Rosita! Mama Imelda! ANYBODY! HELP!"
From inside the house, Hecto could hear yelling and was frozen to try to listen. His wife banged the door open and tears were in her eyes.
"It's Genoveva!"
Hector abandoned his guitar and followed her down the hall to where most of the family had gathered in front of her doorway. They parted for the heads of the household and gasped at Miguel, sitting on Genoveva's bed and holding her close, her eyes shut and her face laced with pain. They both ignored the adults, and the world belonged to them.
Genoveva breathed in and out carefully to try to cease her pain and hold on. Every second she had in Miguel's arms was treasured and loved. She laid her head on his chest and could feel his warmth and love.
"I'm scared." She breathed in such a quiet voice that only he could hear, her eyes still closed; she didn't even have enough energy to open her eyes.
"It's okay." Miguel muttered, petting her hair softly.
"Will you stay with me?"
Miguel closed his eyes and nodded. Genoveva only breathed and tried to relax in his hold. She couldn't think of anything but Miguel. He loved her like no one else ever had. How ironic, that in her final moments, she was the happiest. Though she wasn't ready, Genoveva felt peace that she was loved so much.
A minute passed and Genoveva flashed in gold, burning in pain and a tear escaped her shut eyes. Miguel held her closer and squeeze his face tight. Her flashes stopped for a moment and a tear fell from Miguel's eye onto her cheekbone.
Slowly, she glowed red, but did not wince of pain. Red slowly turned to gold. Miguel only held her tighter until she became dust in his hold and Miguel's arms were empty. He didn't have the strength to open his eyes to see if she was gone, so he collapsed forward and sobbed into the blankets of the bed.
Coco cried into Julio's hold. Rosita had her hands over her mouth to silence her sobs. Victoria removed her glasses, pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes, trying to remain poised and collected. The twins took off their hats and tried to ignore the heavy feeling on their chests.
Imelda fell on her knees and held her face in her hands. Hector was completely still, watching his grandson mourn unashamefully for his loss. It took a moment for it to sink in that Genoveva was gone. Hector walked up to Miguel and sat on the edge of the bed. He put a kind hand on Miguel, and he sprang into Hector's chest and continued to cry heavily. Hector held him tightly and closed his eyes, trying so hard to keep it together for the boy.
Outside, sitting on the tree in the courtyard, a little blue butterfly was watching the family through the bedroom window. It stretched it's wings and flew out of the courtyard with no one to watch over anymore.
