Moon beams fell through Mirabel's open window as she stitched late into the night. Life in the Encanto was paradise, yes, but it was also a lot of work not living in a magical house. Since she'd moved in with her Abuelo Oscar, Mirabel had learned a great deal. She cooked and cleaned and ran errands, all between attending lessons at the schoolhouse. That left little time for her own interests, like sewing.

With steady hands, she snipped the thread and looked at the orange butterfly that was right next to her name on her teal skirt. Mirabel Madrigal. Yes, she was thirteen now. Yes, she knew she was most likely never moving back into the Casita. But Camilo still gave her a birthday gift every year and she stopped to chat with her parents on market days. Luisa even waved at her last week.

As Mirabel began to pick the color for her next embroidered flower, she heard a crash in another room. She leaped up in an instant, yanking open her door to find Oscar sprawled on the living room floor.

"Abuelo!" she exclaimed, dashing to his side. "Are you hurt? What happened?"

"Damn rug," he muttered, taking Mirabel's hand so she could pull him up. "Must've tripped over a loose corner."

Mirabel glanced down at the orange fabric that was starting to thin. Her Abuela had made it long before she'd passed. Her papa said that was wear she got her love of sewing.

"Are you sure your alright? I can go get the healer," she offered as Oscar stretched his back.

"I'll just have a bruise. I'm fine, really mija," he grumbled, batting away her hand. "I'm getting old, this happens."

Mirabel rung her hands as she watched him hobble towards his bedroom. "I could bring you something to drink?"

"Mirabel." Oscar may have been old, but his eyes still had fire in them. "I'm fine. Truly. Now go to bed. You have afternoon classes and Ms. Ricardo told me you need to work on your arithmetic."

Mirabel refrained from rolling her eyes as Oscar went to bed. The other Madrigal children didn't go to the schoolhouse for lessons. They were too busy using their gifts in town.

She went into her bedroom, pausing before closing her door. When she was very little her abuelo had painted her name up top in bright pink. Underneath, Mirabel had added pictures of all her interests. There were flowers, her sewing machine, a mixing bowl, a ball from when she had briefly liked sports, and more than a few music notes. It didn't glow but it still something. And Mirabel had cherished it all these years.

Early the next morning, Mirabel was up, starting to pull out things for breakfast. But before she could start, there was a knock at the door.

Augustine, in his jaunty blue suit, stood on the stoop. Mirabel jumped a little when she saw him, brushing flour off her hands.

"Papa. What are you doing here?" she asked.

Augustine seemed a little surprised to find his daughter opening the door so early but he did his best to hide it. "Dolores heard your abuelo fall last night. Julieta, your Mama, made some arepas for him."

"Oh. I'll…I'll go wake him up." Sometimes Mirabel forgot how amazing her family truly was.

"Abuelo?" she knocked on his door softly. Sure enough, she heard the bed groan and then there was Oscar, standing in his oversized night shirt.

"What?" he grouched before seeing Augustine. "Oh. What are you doing here, mijo?"

"Julieta made you some arepas. For the bruises," he replied, holding out a basket.

"Well, sit down then," he muttered, hobbling into the main room and waving at the small wooden table. "I'm sure she made enough for all of us. Mirabel, coffee?"

"Right."

Soon, all three of them were sitting at the small table, coffee mugs in their hands as they munched on arepas. Oscar rubbed his hip as his bruises vanished and Mirabel watched tiny pin pricks on her fingertips heal instantly as they ate.

When there was nothing, but crumbs and Augustine was beginning to pack up the basket, Mirabel began to wonder something.

"Papa, you don't have a gift," she started, and he laughed.

"No, I do not."

"But you live in the Casita."

"Of course I do, that's where my wife and children are." His eyes widened as he realized what he'd said, and Mirabel tried to ignore the sting.

"But why live in the Casita? You could live out here, with Abuelo. Why does…why do you get to stay?"

"Mirabel," Oscar chided in a soft voice, but Augustine waved him off, his hand pressed to his brow as he thought.

"Well, I suppose it's because of your Mama. She loves me and made me part of her family. And I think, over time, Abuela Alma came to love me as well."

"So…you're saying that love is what keeps you there?" Mirabel felt blood rushing out of her face.

"Exactly!" Augustine seemed delighted, beaming at his clever response, until he saw the tears welling in Mirabel's eyes. "No, Mirabel, that's not what I meant!"

But it was too late. The young girl had already torn out the front door, running down the cobbled streets of the Encanto. She ran and ran, the Casita at her back, mountains ahead of her. It wasn't long until she reached the end, staring at the sheer cliffs that kept everyone safe. Everyone trapped.

Because of love, Tio Felix and her Papa got to stay in the Casita. Because of love they were part of the family.

Because that's what makes a family, isn't it? Mirabel felt the tears fall of her face and looked down as they fell into her lap, dripping onto her skirt.

Mirabel Madrigal looked up at her, so pink against the teal, it was practically blinding.

If love was what made a family, then her family must not love her. Otherwise, she would be there with them.

She had no family. She had no love.

Mirabel saw red as she tore at the waist band of her skirt. She pulled and tore and relished every tear and thread ripped.

When Oscar and Augustine found her, she was sitting in the grass, staring at the mountains, sitting in a pile of teal tatters, pink thread wrapped around her fingers.

Mirabel wasn't apart of the Madrigals. She had never been and would never try to be again.

(Just fixing an error, hence the reupload) I know this one was shorter, but I'm planning some longer chapters ahead. I'm also going back to school next week so chapters may take me a bit longer. Thanks for reading!