Despite the presence of fireworks, the night went off without a hitch. Antonio got his gift and he was happy, and her mother was at peace for the first time that week. Chaos had a certain sound, it rustled and twisted in the air like a unique tension and buzzed in the background and Dolores was relieved that it left the room early in the night because she blamed that for her stress. She could now focus her attention on not embarrassing herself. She then thought, would this be the norm now? Planning her day around avoiding her prima's future husband, never feeling at ease in her own home? She wondered if tio Bruno could teach her how to navigate the walls, but that was another thought she could not dwell on and risk exposing.

Dolores wondered if Antonio had spoken to any of Bruno's rats yet, anxious to see what they'd say. She watched her mother spin Antonio around, as some birds curled around him singing a song that apparently her brother found hilarious. Rarely with her gift did she hear something and not understand it, so she was excited to share something with her brother, to discuss the things they heard. She knew animals made sounds 24/7 and was preparing herself for how to help her brother process anything overwhelming. Yes, yes she had so much to occupy herself with, when would she have time to think about-

"Mr. Mariano!" Antonio said, his voice light and happy. Dolores snapped out of her daze and turned to see Mariano enter the room. Antonio ran up to him and Mariano got down on his knee to Antonio's eye level to give him a fist bump.

"Congratulations little man," said Mariano with a laugh. "Does this mean we'll be seeing more animals in the classroom?"

"No, I asked but they don't wanna do any of the tests," he replied with a smile. "Are you here to see me or Isabela?"

"Why can't it be both?" he said, standing up with a chuckle. The genuine way he spoke was like a palette cleanser to Dolores, it steadied the nervous beating of her heart. Then seeing his smile hurried her heart all over again. "Thank you for inviting me to your big night."

"Yes yes yes, thank you for coming Mariano," said Pepa, taking her son's hand. "But I'm not done dancing with the birthday boy, come finish talking on the dance floor."

Dolores was glad her brother was having a good time but the situation was becoming overwhelming for her. The music, the people, the animals; everything happening at the same time. And watching Mariano ask Isabela to dance… yes the sounds! She had to leave because of the sounds! When she tried, she found she suddenly couldn't move her legs, her eyes locked on them. His eyes locked on her. Isabela twirled gracefully making idle conversation, and Dolores knew it didn't matter what she was saying because he would adore it regardless. Then, for a moment, everything blurred together and toned out. It was a minor blip, but she hadn't had a moment so quiet in public since she got her gift. The return to normalcy stung her ears and then Mirabel came running in the room, and Dolores could use that as a excuse to leave.

Until she heard what she said.

The magic was dying? Dolores knew Mirabel didn't go around fibbing and there was no false intention in her voice. So even if it wasn't true, Dolores knew Mirabel truly believed it with her whole heart. Dolores could dismiss it as Abuela suggested but her mind flashed back to her quiet moment. It did feel as though her gift faded, even for a small moment. Their gifts were meant to help the community and in this moment she was being selfish and using her gift to spy. She was jealous, could her feeling this way cause the Encanto to remove her gift? On this, such a special night? The thought flew around Dolores' head, darting but not sticking. This was nothing new, why would her repressed actions have consequences now? They did their best understand the Encanto but there was still so much unknown. Could it take away her gift as punishment? As an incentive? As a sign?

But no one else seemed worried. No one whispered concerns, except those for Mirabel. Dolores thought she must be paranoid, she must just be nervous. She was in desperate need of a distraction and she would do whatever possible to manifest one. Between Luisa eye twitching all night the the rats frantically chattering in the walls, she had plenty to keep her mind off Mariano.

Tonight. He was coming tonight. That was all her mind could say when she woke up that morning. She had barely slept, but she suspected that would have been the case regardless.

Mariano. Mariano. Mariano. There was no turning back now. He'd be around very corner, building a future in Casita. She would have to move on. But how could she move on with this secret weighing her down? If she could be properly rejected, that could makes things easier. But who could she tell this to that it wouldn't destroy them too? She suspected Bruno knew, and he certainly wouldn't tell anyone, but what insult to injury to remind him the pain of his prophecy. She knew he did not cause it and assigned him no blame, but she knew he wouldn't feel the same.

So the secret sat on the back of her throat, waiting to strike. But she had to be stronger, act as though nothing was amiss. She could stay in the background. She had until dinner to compose herself, trying to keep her ears away from Mariano and especially Abuela. She paced the floor practicing her breathing when suddenly Mirabel said

"... the name we do not speak," her moment whispered. Thinking about Bruno could be another distraction, but that was such an easy thought to link back to Mariano. Everything could link back to him. If she thought about a song, she thought about him singing. If she thought about food, she'd think about his favorite foods. If she thought about the weather, she'd think about him in that weather. Even without her feelings for him, by this point he had become a staple in the Madrigal household. His name flew in and out of conversation with ease, but only her ears lingered on it. Hearing Mirabel ask about Bruno only brought to mind her painful prophecy, no matter how much she knew this pain was not her tio's intention.

But she would be fine. She would have to be fine.

But why was Mirabel asking about Bruno?

"We say nothing," she heard her tio Agustin say, as she continued to pace the hall. "Abuela wants tonight to be perfect. Until the Guzmans leave, you did not break into Bruno's tower, the magic is not dying, the house is not breaking. Luisa's gift is not fading. No one will know. Just act normal, no one has to know."

Chirp.

"I know," Dolores whispered from across the hall, quickly retreating. Another secret [plagued her mind, fighting to be revealed. She was concealing too much; it was only a matter of time before something made its way out. Had she asked too much when she wished for a distraction? Because this was far too much. Dolores had contained her own prophecy, could she really hold someone else's? There was not enough room in her heart.

She didn't even see the food in front of her at dinner, Mirabel monitored her like a hypnotist. She knew Mirabel was preserving her own secret, but the pressure Dolores felt was crippling. A part of it was from the desire to be free from the burden and the other was concern that her family needed to know. She knew it was selfish, but she felt she needed to preserve her longer secret. But she fought it the best she could.

Mariano. Bruno. Mirabel. Mariano. Bruno. Mirabel. The secrets fought for dominance in her mind, the inner and outer sounds clashing and crashing in her ears. The chaos broke lose everywhere. The proposal. The prophecy. The proposal. The prophecy. They both could not stay locked inside her any longer, one had to come out.

When Mirabel looked away, she whispered the secret to Camilo, hoping it would ease the weight in her chest, It didn't. She wasn't sure it it was because this secret was so new and heavy or if it was the true weight of her feelings for Mariano. The pain and pressure remained Dolores fought it. The sounds of tension was back, buzzing and mocking her. Would it be here regardless? Mirabel shoved Isabela's chair to Mariano. He got down on one knee. He pulled out the ring. Prophecy. Proposal. Prophecy. Proposal. Her mind split in two, her heart racing. The world caving in. Mariano. Mirabel. Bruno. The pressure, the noise, the chaos. It was too loud. It was deafening, holding back like this. To stop the pain, she opened her mouth and let the words race out; not knowing which secret would be revealed: "Mirabel found Bruno's vision. She's in it, she's gonna destroy the magic and now we're all doomed!"

The next few seconds were a blur. The proposal was ruined. But Dolores knew this was not the end.