AN: I'm a little nervous about this chapter. I hope you guys will like what I wrote. Anyways, let me know what you think and I hope you have a great day :)
Disclaimer: Disney owns Encanto.
It was mid-morning and the rest of the family was in town, helping set up for the coming festival. Isabela, however, was not in the mood for socialization. She'd convinced Abuela to let her remain home so she could come up with new arrangements to use for her flowers. They couldn't be set up days in advance as a lot of the other decorations could, they would wilt without the proper care and she'd simply end up redoing it all. Seeing the truth in her argument, her grandmother hadn't put up much of a fuss.
It's not like she lied. Isa was working... just not on new ideas. She knew that everything had to be perfect. Her flower choice, the arrangement, the colors... nothing could be out of place. This is what she was working on. The long-haired woman had come up with the idea months ago, knowing the festival was an annual occurrence in the village, it's just that she was having a hard time executing her vision. Nothing wanted to cooperate and it was causing her so much stress that she nearly felt sick with it. The event was only a few days away! What would Abuela say if her part of the festivities weren't perfect?
"No, I need to try again, try harder." She murmured, banishing her plants and starting anew, steadfastly ignoring the sweat building on her brow. "This is the most intricate design I've ever made, of course it'll take some work to get right."
The self-reassurance did little to ease her troubled mind and, when she messed up once more, the poor girl sank to her knees breathing rapidly as black spots appeared in her vision. She took several long moments to breathe, fighting off the nausea that had suddenly made itself at home in her stomach. She couldn't afford these distractions, Isabela knew that, she had to keep going. Pushing herself to her feet once more, the twenty-one-year-old took a moment to steady herself before summoning her gift once more.
Flowers sprouted in hues of yellows, oranges, and reds, fanning out to make a complex, sun-like pattern that seemed to nearly radiate warmth. Glancing around, the young woman nearly sobbed in contempt when she noticed flowers still out of place, colors that didn't belong sneaking in to ruin her careful pattern... it still wasn't perfect. With that thought, the darkness at the edge of her vision crept in, slowly consuming her until Isa knew no more.
Upon awakening, the eldest Madrigal grandchild was surprised to find herself tucked into bed. What had happened? Wasn't she meant to be perfecting her arrangement? It all came flooding back as she turned her head to look out at her room, her final attempt still fully on display before her, as if mockingly reminding her of her failure. Oh, that's right, she'd failed again. Isabela remembered feeling utter disappointment before everything faded to black.
"Did I faint?" She asked aloud, though no reply came from the empty room. "How did I get on my bed?"
The black-haired woman knew that her familia should still be in town at this hour, so who helped her? Maybe one of them returned home earlier than expected? No, they would have stayed until she woke up. Was it Casita? It couldn't have been. Their house can do many things but if that was the case her flowers would have been disturbed during the process. Left with a mystery, Isa glanced around to look for clues. Her eyes landed on two notes resting beside her on the bed. One was the normal type they usually received from the escritor misterioso, the other was hastily scribbled, though obviously the same handwriting.
"What!" She nearly shrieked, jumping to her feet with her eyes blown wide, unsettled by this turn of events. "No... no way... this isn't happening."
No matter how she tried, however, Isabela couldn't shake the evidence that had presented itself. As she stared in fright at the set of papers resting on her bed she became aware of the throbbing pain in her head for the first time. It felt as if someone had taken a hammer to her temple and, as she reached up to cradle the source of her pain, she felt cloth wrapped tightly around her head. Moving as quickly as she dared, Isa made her way around her bed to the dresser that sat a short distance away. Stopping before it, she gathered her nerves before lifting her eyes to the mirror. She was right, someone had carefully wrapped a bandage around her head. She noticed a little red seeping through so she must have cracked her head on something when she fell. Feeling slightly better, the young woman moved back to her bed and picked up the scribbled note.
Por favor perdóname, señorita, I know this is probably creepy but I couldn't leave you bleeding on the floor. Lo siento.
The note was awkward and rushed but the sentiment remained the same. Whoever the person is who's leaving the notes meant no harm. Isabela decided then and there that she would keep this little development to herself. She'd been unconscious, completely vulnerable, and all the person did was help her. Sure, it was frightening to know that some stranger had come into her room without permission but, then again, they've been creeping around Casita for years now. If they had bad intentions, the house would have kicked them out long ago. No, it was best if to keep this a secret, at least for now. Isa hadn't heard of anything like this happening with her other family members, if it has, then they've chosen to remain quiet as well. She hated to think of what would happen if her abuela ever found out about this. Pushing it to the back of her mind, the young woman took the other note in hand. Her point was proven even further as the words flowed straight to her heart and began to heal something she hadn't even known was broken.
You don't have to be perfect, you just have to be you.
"Thank you for the help, whoever you are." She spoke loudly, uncertain whether she would be heard by the intended target or not. "But let's not make a habit of this, okay? I'll be more careful, lo prometo, and you stay out of my room."
With that said, Isabela decided it would be better to rest for the remainder of the day. Curling up with a good book after grabbing some of her mother's food, she sighed in contentment. So what if some of the flowers were different colors and the lines weren't perfectly straight? It just made the entire display more unique. After all, no two flowers are exactly the same so why should her arrangements be any different?
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
Days later, Isabela was walking along the upstairs balcony on her way to her room when she heard her name being spoken. She hesitated, realizing the voices were coming from Abuela's room, but in the end, her curiosity got the better of her. She moved silently, like some kind of specter, until she was right outside the door. Taking a breath, Isa carefully shifted until she was able to peer through the crack of the slightly ajar door without fear of being noticed. Inside, they continued to speak in hushed voices, not realizing she was now observing the proceeding with great interest.
Within the cozy room, her parents and grandmother sat in heavy discussion. Something was going on and she wanted to know what it was. After all, wasn't it her right to know since she was the topic of the conversation? What she heard, however, made the poor girl regret giving in to her curious nature.
"I have been speaking to Señora Guzmán and she is of the same opinion," Alma spoke, voice dripping with calm authority. "Her son, Mariano, will be a great match for our perfect Isabela. The proposal will take place within the year."
"But mamá," Julieta piped up, her brow knitted with concern. "Have you even spoken to Isa about this? It's a big decision and she's still so young."
"Exactly," Agustin agreed, wrapping a supportive arm around his wife's waist. "I haven't heard my daughter say a word about this boy. We don't even know if she fancies him."
'I most certainly do not!' Isabela screamed in her head, her mouth going dry at the thought of suddenly being married off to a man she had no interest in. 'He's not my type at all and his poetry is such a bore. There's no way I want to spend the rest of my life listening to it!'
"Nonsense," Abuela spoke once more, leaving no room for argument. "Isabela is only slightly younger than I was when I married mi amado Pedro and besides, think of the family. Her future children will bring more gifts to our familia and more gifts means more opportunities to help our community, our Encanto."
Both she and her parents stared at her abuela with stunned expressions for a few moments, then she slipped away, not staying to hear what came next. She was too upset. Abuela was planning to marry her off just so she could provide children who would eventually receive gifts of their own. The woman hadn't even taken her feelings into consideration. If she'd been asked, though, what would she have said? She couldn't have told her grandmother no even if she'd wanted to. It simply wasn't done. Rushing down the stairs, rather than going to her room as originally planned, Isabela made her way out of Casita's front doors. Maybe a relaxing walk in the woods would help settle her nerves and prepare her for a marriage she wanted no part in.
She didn't return until late that night. She knew that the familia was probably worried that she hadn't shown up for dinner but she also knew Dolores would have let them know she was alright. She just couldn't face them. It was too soon. She wouldn't have been able to keep it together and Isa couldn't afford to let her perfect facade slip, not with Abuela around. Everyone had to do their part... and apparently, this was hers. Sighing in resignation, she knew there was no way out of this mess. Not for her, not for any of them. Abuela's word was law in la familia Madrigal and there was no changing that. She simply had to accept it. That didn't mean she cried any less upon reading the note waiting for her at the top of the stairs.
Do what makes you happy, not what you think would make the family happy.
'If only it were that easy,' She thought to herself, clutching the paper to her chest as she sobbed silently in the darkness of her home. 'But it's not. I have to do this... I have to... for the family.'
With that final thought circling her head, the twenty-one-year-old headed to her room. Knowing sleep would not come, she curled into a ball as she reread the kind words, letting herself imagine a world where she was free to make her own choices.
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
Helping out in town was taxing, to say the least. Sure, she didn't have as strenuous of work as her sister, Luisa, but that didn't mean Isabela didn't get tired of making flowers all day long. It wouldn't be such a big deal if she could experiment a bit, try out new things, but it seems like all people ever want are the same roses in the same colors and same designs. It gets old. Still, today was a day she'd been looking forward to for weeks. She and her two siblings had been planning it since the start of the month and it was finally here... a day they could spend together as sisters, bonding and sharing secrets. Maybe she'd even give them makeovers if there was time. Really, they just wanted time to relax and be themselves, away from the stress and expectations of the village.
All three of them had worked overtime to make sure there was nothing that would get in the way of today. All their work had been finished the day before and now it was finally time. They had decided to meet near the stream that ran along the base of the hill behind Casita and the eldest sister swiftly gathered the supplies she'd been put in charge of before leaving her room in a rush, not paying attention to where she was going. Sadly, this led to her nearly running into Abuela in her haste to meet her sisters.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" The elderly woman demanded, casting a disapproving glance over her frenzied form before reaching out to smooth her hair back into place. "Isabella, you must always remember to move with the grace befitting your station. We cannot let the community get the wrong impression. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Abuela," Isa replied, back straightening infinitesimally under the scrutinizing gaze.
"Good," The other said, smiling at the younger female. "Now, you haven't answered my question... where are you off to?"
"Luisa, Mirabel, and I were planning on spending the day together. You know, just some sisterly bonding." Isabela explained, wary of what the matriarch would say.
She flinched internally upon seeing a frown beginning to appear on the older Madrigal's face. However, she left out a sigh of relief as a sudden crash caught the elder's attention. When Alma turned to see what it was, Isa didn't hesitate, she took the opportunity to escape and quickly rushed downstairs into the kitchen. There, she took a few moments to breathe. She'd hadn't deliberately gone against her grandmother's wishes like this since she was a willful child, knowing it wouldn't do anyone any good in the long run. But she wanted this... she wanted it so bad. Was it too much to ask for a day to spend with her siblings? She knew their bonds were strained, especially between her and Mira, and she wanted nothing more than to mend them if she could. How could she, though, when they never got to spend any time together?
Calming down, Isabela gathered the last of the things she'd said she would bring and peeked out of the kitchen, cautiously checking for Alma's presence. When so was satisfied that her abuela wouldn't suddenly appear before her, the eldest Madrigal grandchild crept from the room, heading swiftly through the courtyard towards the front door. She only paused for a moment upon noticing a note laying on the ground. Grabbing it as she went, the young woman quickly made her escape. As she hurried along the path that would lead to where her sisters were waiting for her, Isa read the note and felt her heart grow lighter with every word.
Don't forget to have fun, it helps make hardships easier to handle.
She smiled sincerely as she carefully tucked the paper into the basket alongside the rest of her supplies. She couldn't agree more. True, she would probably get in trouble later for leaving without her grandmother's permission but, as she reached the top of the hill and saw her siblings waiting down below, she knew it would be worth it. Calling out a greeting, Isa rushed forward, pulling her younger sisters into a tight embrace that was easily returned. The three spent the day relaxing, simply enjoying each other's company. No worries, no pressure, no expectations... just them... together as they haven't been since they were young. Laying there in the grass as Luisa and Mirabel talked about everything and nothing, Isabela decided that this was her definition of perfect and she wouldn't give it up for the world.
AN: Hope you liked it, thanks for reading :)
