AN: Hey guys, bet you weren't expecting to get Alma this soon. I decided to put her here so that she's right in the middle of the other chapters. I figured that was as good a place as any. I hope you guys like this one. Take care and have a great day :)
Disclaimer: Encanto is Disney's property.
Rising from her bed as the morning sun traced patterns around the room, Alma sighed, her bones creaking with the effort. She was not getting any younger and she knew that the day would come when she would no longer be here to help Encanto and her familia. She could only hope that that day was still a fair ways off. While she loved her Pedro and missed him dearly, she was not ready to be reunited just yet. The old woman still had much she wished to do, and yet, she always felt rather listless on the anniversary of Encanto's founding, her mood souring before the day had even begun.
Alma knew that the townspeople meant no harm, many of them weren't even alive when they'd originally settled here oh so many years ago... that didn't make it hurt any less. Seeing her friends and neighbors getting ready for the large celebration that was held every year never failed to cause her pain, though she did her best to hide it. No one, save her daughters and son (when he'd still been with them) had asked if she was okay. She didn't know if it was to preserve her privacy or if they'd truly forgotten the sacrifice that had given them their miracle. For her, it wasn't a celebration of Encanto's founding... it was the anniversary of her amado esposo's death.
'It's been fifty years...' The matriarch thought to herself, her wrinkled hand clasping the locket close to her heart. 'Yet it never gets easier. I miss you dearly, mi amor. Please continue to watch over our familia and guide us.'
Yes, she was grateful for the miracle, Encanto, and the safety that came with it... but it didn't make her grief any less devastating. Even now, so many years since the tragic event had transpired, she still felt it just as keenly. Maybe that is why she kept such a tight rein on her remaining familia.
Getting ready to face the day, Alma made sure she was presentable before exiting her room. She must always appear respectable, even if on the inside she wanted nothing more than to hide away and wallow in her misery. That wouldn't help matters, she had to stay strong... for her familia and for the community. They looked to her for guidance and the elderly woman refused to let them down.
Walking into the dining room, Alma found that the rest of her family had already arrived. Silently taking her seat at the head of the table, the seventy-five-year-old, glanced around. The smiling faces of her children and grandchildren reminded her why this day was so important. Still, there were two faces missing. One who had never stepped foot in Casita and the other who had disappeared without a trace. Both caused a spike of pain that was promptly pushed down as she stood to address her family.
"Mi familia," She spoke, voice pitched so that it took on a lighthearted tone. "Today we once again celebrate the founding of Encanto, the day we received our miracle. I expect you all to help out with the preparations and to be on your best behavior. We are the Madrigals! Uphold our name and prove you are worthy of the gifts that have been bestowed upon you."
With that said, she took her seat once more and the meal commenced. She paid little mind to what the others were speaking of, lost in her own thoughts. It wasn't until Julieta placed a soft hand on her shoulder that she realized everyone but her daughters had left.
"Mamá, estás bien?" Her eldest asked, eyes filled with concern.
"Si, cariño, I was simply thinking." She replied, placing her wrinkled hand over her daughter's.
"About papá?" Pepa spoke softly, a small cloud appearing above her head.
"Among other things," Alma admitted, she wouldn't lie to her children... not unless it was necessary for the good of Encanto.
The two younger women looked at each other, brows knitted in concern. The eldest Madrigal knew that they were worried, this happened every year, and like every year she hurried to offer a distraction.
"Julieta, you'd better get started on the food for the banquet, it won't cook itself." She spoke, voice full of authority. "Pepa, we need clear skies. The festivities will be ruined if the weather turns bad so please focus on controlling your emotions."
Both of her children stood straighter before nodding in understanding, rushing off to do as she said. Sighing, Alma allowed her facade to drop for a moment, sadness filling her eyes as she thought once more of her lost love. Then, taking a fortifying breath, she gathered her resolve and went about her duties for the day.
That night, long after the celebration had ended and the villagers returned to their homes, she wandered into the kitchen and sat nursing a glass of wine. The tears poured down her face but it didn't matter, no one was there to see as the rest of her familia had gone to bed nearly an hour before. She thought back on everything that had happened in her long life, pondering on how different things could have been if Pedro had survived. It was just wishful thinking, this she knew, nothing can bring back the dead... but it brought her comfort for a short time. Deciding to finally turn in for the night, Alma moved to place her glass in the sink. She would have missed the note entirely had Casita not rattled her tiles and scooted it over until it gently brushed her hand. Scrawled in a messy handwriting that seemed vaguely familiar, the message caused her to breath to stutter as she took in the words of comfort.
There's no need to suffer alone in silence, your familia is here for you.
The words sounded so much like something her Pedro would have said and that though had her sinking to her knees, the note held tight to her chest. Alma wept, though these were not the same tears as earlier. Instead, they were tears full of relief. She knew in her heart that the escritor misterioso was correct, her familia was here and would be more than willing to help shoulder her pain. She simply needed to let them in.
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
After the note she'd received on the anniversary of Pedro's death, Alma had made a concentrated effort to be more open with her feelings. She still had to appear strong and resolute amongst the community but was willing to let her mask slip slightly when it came to her daughters. Their relationship has improved slightly, something she's very grateful for, and they've been spending more time together simply enjoying each other's company. Today was a difficult day, though, as she and everyone else were extremely busy.
There had been a bad storm the day prior, one Pepa hadn't been able to stop, and the Madrigals were pushing themselves to the limit in order to help with repairs around Encanto. She knew she was being hard on them, especially her grandchildren, but the townspeople were depending on them to get things done. She couldn't let down the community, so, she ignored the protests of her familia and told them to work harder. Everything came to a head, however, when she snapped at Mirabel and Camilo as they were taking a break in the town square.
"What are you two doing!" She exclaimed, angrily marching over to the two fifteen-year-olds. "You are supposed to be helping clear debris, not sitting there like bumps on a log while everyone else does the work."
She glanced around, quietly noting that there were no townspeople nearby before raising her voice slightly, failing to notice her daughters rounding a nearby corner.
"I should have expected this out of Mirabel," The elderly woman ranted, hand gesticulating wildly as the two stood at attention before her. "If it's not one thing with her then it's another! But I expected better of you Camilo. Your gift is so versatile you could be doing so much good and yet here you sit, being lazy! You should be asham..."
"That's enough, mamá!" A voice she recognized as belonging to her middle child spoke up, startling her.
She turned away from the horrified teens, coming face to face with twin looks of rage from her hijas. Both women looked beyond furious and, as she thought back on the scene she'd just caused, she couldn't say she blamed them. Alma knew she'd crossed a line. She wouldn't admit it... but she knew.
"Mamá, Mirabel and Camilo have been helping all day without rest." Julieta proclaimed, hands clenching her apron in barely concealed anger. "We told them to take a break. Cami almost took a wood beam to the head half an hour ago and mi pequeña niña tripped earlier when she was trying to help her father. I had to give her food to cure her sprained ankle."
At the mention of her familia being in danger, Abuela felt her ire burn out only to be reignited moments later as her daughters continued to admonish her... the children watching in surprised silence.
"I can't believe you'd say those things to them!" Pepa declared as a dark cloud began thundering above her. "Do you not see how exhausted they are? How exhausted we all are?"
Alma frowned, eyes darkening in anger. She hadn't been there when any of those things happened! How was she supposed to know that they'd nearly been hurt or that their mothers had told them to rest? No, her reaction was completely natural. To her, it appeared as if they were slacking. The two sure hadn't said anything to the contrary when she'd spoken with them. It was they who were out of line.
"You do not speak to me like that." She reprimanded, standing proudly, not willing to back down. "If they were so tired, they should have said something. They are likely just trying to get out of work."
"I can't believe this." Her eldest muttered, dragging a weary hand down her face. "Did you not listen to a word we said?"
"Leave it, Juli, she only hears what she wants to." Her sister added, glaring at her madre.
"You will not show me such blatant disrespect." The elder stated, voice growing icy as she continued. "Not in my home."
"Look around, mami, we're not in your home." Pepa declared defiantly, eyes flashing dangerously as lightning flew from her cloud.
Taking a deep breath, the redhead leveled the older woman with a cold look as she broke her strictest rule, the children gasping as she said, "Keep this up and Bruno won't be the only one to leave."
With that, she grabbed her sister and the two teens and marched away, ignoring Camilo's stunned "Wait, we're talking about Bruno?" and leaving a dazed Alma standing there in silence as the world moved around her.
That night, upon returning home to Casita, she wasn't surprised to find the rest of her familia gossiping about the blowup. They all fell silent and scampered away the moment she laid eyes on them, obviously frightened of her temper turning on them. She couldn't blame them. Heading to her room, the gray-haired woman pulled out her locket, staring helplessly at the picture of her husband as she sat near the window that housed their miracle.
"What am I doing, mi amor?" She asked, hesitantly thinking back on what all had occurred in such a short time. "Where did I go wrong? First you, then Bruno, and now Pepa... am I destined to lose everyone I love?"
Sighing, she moved away from the window, noticing for the first time, the note that sat on her bedside table. As she read what was written, understanding dawned in her heart and she took the warning for what it was.
If you continue to push everyone away, you'll eventually find yourself alone.
She had to do better... there was no other option. She refused to lose more of her familia than she already had! Getting ready for bed, Alma knew that she would have to swallow her pride and apologize for her actions. Not just to Pepa and Julieta but to Mirabel and Camilo as well. In fact, she would make it a public apology over breakfast. That way it showed her respect for them. Nodding to herself, she let a small smile grace her lips, never noticing how the candle flared just a bit brighter as she drifted off to sleep.
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
Weeks later, Alma was proud to say that she'd apologized and had not had another flare of temper like the one aimed at Mirabel and Camilo. They were still avoiding being alone with her but that was fine, they'd get over it eventually. She knew that these things take time and was willing to wait it out. What mattered was that her familia was still all together. Safe and sound in the home their miracle had gifted them.
The Madrigal matriarch sighed, setting the documents she'd been reading (just some reports on the town's growth) down beside her chair on the low table and turned her face upwards... a wave of grief washing over her. No, not all together... there was still a member of their familia missing. Bruno had been gone for ten years at this point, she knew the likelihood of him returning was next to nothing. She had failed her son, her youngest, and it was eating away at her bit by bit.
"Did I chase you away, mijo? Was it my fault?" She asked the empty room, eyes glazed in pain even as she refused to allow tears to form. "You told me that you didn't want to use your gift, that you felt it was more a curse. Would you still be here if I'd taken the time to listen?"
She knew how the villagers had treated her only son. Oh yes, she knew. Alma had heard the whispers, the quiet words hidden behind raised hands as they stared at Bruno in barely disguised contempt... and yet she'd done nothing to dissuade it. Instead, she'd told her son to try harder, be more clear when delivering his visions, see more positive things. She'd blamed him for his visions just as much, if not more, than the people in town ever had. It wasn't until after he'd left that she'd realized that. Now, it was too late for her to make it up to him, to tell her Brunito that it was never his fault... he didn't make bad things happen.
"Lo siento, mi hijo. I should have been there for you when you needed me." She spoke softly, voice breaking. "I failed you... I failed as a mother. Lo siento mucho."
Gathering her wits about her, the gray-haired woman picked up the papers once more, turning her attention to the matters held within the document. She stayed that way for several hours, pouring over the papers for anything that may be urgent or need their attention. As night fell, Alma finally rose from her chair, joints creaking with age. She decided to make herself a cup of tea before turning in for the night, too tired to do any more work.
Heading towards the kitchen, Abuela smiled softly as she approached the inspirational notes left on the board nearby. The two resting on her bedside table coming to mind as she realized she should pin them up with the others. She halted, noticing that one of the notes must have fallen from its place, for it now lay on the cobbled rocks that made up the courtyard. Carefully picking it up with an aged hand, Alma's eyes widened in surprise. She'd read every note on that board, most multiple times over, and yet she'd never seen this one. It was too much of a coincidence and she smiled sadly as she read the words that were obviously meant for her.
Nothing is lost that cannot be found.
For the first time in a long time, the eldest Madrigal let herself show the sorrow she felt for her lost son. The tears welling in her eyes overflowed, trailing down her cheeks as she smiled ruefully. Maybe there was still hope. Maybe, someday, her Brunito would return to them. If that day ever comes, Alma promised herself that she would take her son in her arms and never let him go again. She would show him what he means to her, to the familia. She would show Bruno that he was loved. She could only hope that he'd believe it.
AN: Let me know what you guys think :) Thanks for reading!
