Chapter 12:

(Dolores POV)

As I listened to my parents tell Mirabel about Tío Bruno I couldn't help but feel like they were forgetting everything about him. Yeah we were sometimes scared of his visions but, I was never scared of him and I didn't want Mirabel to be either. Especially after he left to make sure the family wouldn't break up. I pulled Mirabel to the side:

"Hey, I grew up to live in fear of Bruno's stuttering and stumbling. I could always hear him sort of muttering and mumbling. I associate him with the sound of fallen sand. Ch, ch, ch. It's a heavy lift with a gift so humbling always left Abuela and the family fumbling. Grappling with prophecies they couldn't understand. Do you understand?"

I tried to tell her. I tried to help her understand but immediately after she was back to hearing the worst about him from Camilo, who probably had even less memories of him than Mirabel did, and everyone in town. Telling her how he made bad things happen, when in reality he just told him about them and they were upset when they came true. Isabella then told her about her vision and I could feel myself getting choked up again. Her vision and my vision coincided. The life of her dreams was with the man of mine.

"He told me, that the man of my dreams, would be just out of reach. Betrothed to another. It's like I hear him now. It's like I hear him now. I can hear him now"

I could hear Mariano walking closer to Casita. He was holding the ring box brushing his fingers over it continually. No, I had to stop. I went downstairs to help set the table with the family as the Bruno conversation continued to buzz. I could hear him making his way to the crack in the family tree. I picked up an arepa and slid it in the crack before anyone else could see before refocusing on the dishes. Everything had to be in place, perfectly or else we would hear about it from Abuela later. It was easy for me to fade into the background though, no one wanted to listen to what I had to say.

The table was all set and the Guzmáns were almost at the entry way. Tío Augustine had gone up to get Mirabel and it was getting close to time for the proposal. I looked down at my chocker before looking around the room. "Excuse me, I need to get something from my room," I said to no one in particular. In fact, everyone was so busy gushing over Isabella that they didn't even notice I left. I had to let go of Mariano and that was going to start with letting go of the necklace he gave me. I couldn't live with the constant reminder of how special he had made me feel when we were kids. If I had any chance of moving on with one of these boys from town I had to let it go.

I made my way upstairs when my hearing focused in on the nursery. Tïo Augustine began whispering about how no one had to know about Bruno's vision, Luisa's gift fading and the magic being in danger. "No one has to know," he said as the door creaked open. I squeaked as I tried to absorb all the information I just heard, "I know." I turned and walked down stairs. Is that what Tío saw? Is the magic in danger? I knew that Luisa's gift was fading but was that going to happen to everyone? Were we safe in Casita? Were the Guzmán's safe here right now?

The questions flooded my mind as I felt Mirabel's stare pierce my eyes. I then heard Tío Bruno in the walls, "Dolores, please don't say anything." I had to focus on something else, anything else, but I was terrified that everyone was going to get hurt. I knew that Tío's visions were complicated and that he didn't want anyone to know about it, but if I didn't say anything and someone in the family got hurt because of it I would never be able to forgive myself. I tried tapping on my glass to drown out the noise of my own thoughts as my breath got heavier.

Camilo touched my arm and I turned to face, "Dolores are you alright?" I couldn't keep it to myself anymore, maybe he would know what to do, "Mirabel found Bruno's vision. It's about her and it involves the magic." I watched as he changed form and realized what I had done. He soon told Papa, who told Mama, who told Tía Julieta. I could hear cracks forming on the floor. Mirabel noticeably looked under the table. Mariano was clearly becoming suspicious, "Mirabel, everything ok?" I caught him send a glance over at me before looking back over at her.

Tío Augustine and Mirabel were trying to rush Mariano to get to the proposal. As I felt my breath getting heavier. There was so much going on around me as animals were scurrying around, the floors were cracking, Luisa was crying, thunder was stirring and listening to what Mariano was telling Isabella. I covered my ears as I was becoming more and more overwhelmed, "Isabella most graceful of all the Madrigals. The most perfect flower in this entire Encanto. Will you marry..." "No," Mirabel said as she was diving under the table and Luisa collapsed on the floor in tears. Everything was getting loud and then quiet and then loud again. "WHAT IS HAPPENING?" Señora Guzmán asked but it sounded like she was screaming. That was when I snapped, "Mirabel found Bruno's vision. She's in it. She is going to destroy the magic and now we are all doomed."

I felt guilty for what happened but all the sudden it felt like my ears were bleeding. It was so loud as the cracks spread around the room as I closed my eyes in pain. Suddenly the doors flew open and people waiting for the proposal exclaimed, "Felicidades." I looked at Abuela as I saw the vision in front of her. I let Tío down. He didn't want to divide the family and it was clear now that we were divided. I failed him like I failed everyone in the family. I was not perfect and this was just another example. As everyone went running out of the room I stayed in my seat covering my ears. I could feel the magic pulsating in my body as everything was becoming louder and softer with no sign of relief.

Abuela came back into the room bursting open the door, "Dolores WHERE is MIRABEL?" I covered my ears whimpering, "I-I don't know." I couldn't focus in on any noise. The sound of a butterflies wings rang like a tornado while the wind remained silent rather than its usual roar. "well LISTEN for her," I couldn't tell what was her infection and what just sounded like an angry scream. "Abuela, the magic..." "The magic is fine," she said slamming down on the table before walking away screaming for Mirabel.

Suddenly I heard what sounded like banging on the walls or it sounded like banging on the walls. I couldn't figure out what was what anymore. I looked at the door that had blown open before. Maybe some distance would help. I had to make my way out of here. I ran out into the jungle that I had become so familiar with. I needed to stop listening now more than ever but, the more I tried, the more worked up I became and the more difficult it was to focus. I found a field and laid back in the grass as I tried to calm down. Normally I could tell what was going on or who was talking to who but in that moment. I couldn't even sort through my own emotions while everyone else's were intruding my thoughts.

My family was falling apart. Everyone was convinced that my Uncle was a monster. The reason why he left the family was revealed to everyone, by me. Mariano got hurt in the crossfire. Everything was my fault. I don't know why Mirabel was in the vision or what impact she had on the family, but if I had kept my mouth shut everyone would have been happier.

I was just causing everyone problems. That's why I was never going to be a town favorite. That's why they call my gift the dud. That's why Mariano fell in love Isabella instead of me. That's why I was never going to be perfect.

The flower that bloomed first was a sight to behold,
Inspiring beauty and awe wherever she goes.
The second a disappointment compared to the first,
Who's power always felt more like a curse.

A background character in her own life,
She seemed to cause nothing but strife.
She hid away from the world retreated into herself,
Putting her own dreams on-top the highest shelf.

Try as she might to keep it all in check,
She always seemed to cause more of a wreck.
One day she heard something and feared the worst
But, when she revealed it she destroyed her world.

Hidden away in the jungles embrace,
She felt ashamed not wanting to show her face.
She had not idea what to do next,
Worrying she might cause even more regret.

The words of others have more of an effect than they know,
Seeing as they never gave her the chance to grow.

Author's Note:

I know that this chapter is shorter than the others, but I wanted to focus primarily on the dinner scene and the proposal right now, and I wanted to post it sooner rather than later. The next chapter should be longer again. I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you for all of your support :)