He found her among the rubbles of La Casa, exactly where the magical candle had died. She was sitting on the ground, arms around her knees, staring blankly at one spot.
"There you are!" said Bruno triumphantly, rushing forward at once. "Thank Dios… you scared me –"
A short distance away, he came to a sudden halt. Something didn't seem right, although the man couldn't put his finger on exactly what that was.
"Sorry…" Even though she whispered, Mirabel's voice echoed around the ruins. "I – I just… needed some fresh air."
Her Tio nodded, several times in the row. He knew perfectly well how it was to be overwhelmed by huge crowds. Or small crowds. He wasn't picky.
Slowly, not to scare her, Bruno sat down next to his sobrina, keeping certain distance between them.
"Everyone's looking for you," he muttered, his eyes on the exact same spot as hers. "They – they thought that you… might have pulled a Bruno – or something. Their words, not mine."
Mirabel frowned, throwing her Tio a sideway glance.
"That I – what?"
"Oh – y'know – ran away? Without telling?"
The girl scoffed, shaking her head.
"Very subtle..."
With her shoe, Mira played with the dust, still avoiding his gaze. She refused to stare up even when Bruno responded with a humorless chuckle. There was a short silence between them, which for some reason didn't seem too awkward. Finally, without looking up at him, the girl asked her Tio,
"Tio Bruno, will it ever be easier?"
"What, mija?"
"Life," she added through a clenched throat.
Bruno looked sadly at her with a knowing smile.
"Um, I – How do I say this..." She stared into his eyes with anticipation, waiting for an honest answer. An honest answer… "Well – No. It won't. Why?"
"Nothing. I just thought…" Mirabel sighed, covering her face with her hands. "I don't know! That I'm helping my family? And myself? That making them actually see me… That, maybe, it would make everything better. That I'll finally be… – Never mind."
Mira felt him place his hand on her shoulder. He gave it a light, comforting squeeze.
"Happy?" he asked, finishing the sentence for her. His niece did not protest – so he moved his palm to delicately rub the place between her blades. "I wish it was that simple, Mirabel. But it isn't. Not for me – apparently not for you."
In an unexpected turn of events, Bruno found Mirabel leaning into him. Unsure what to do, he put an awkward arm around her back. He'd always been uncomfortable with offering emotional support to people – but, for this particular person, the man would gladly make an effort.
Until they'd run out of time.
"We can, um – continue this? If you want?" said Bruno, sounding more than a little uncertain. "But later, okay? First, let's show you to your Mama. She's worried sick, y'know?"
A moment had passed, in which she considered his request. And then, another moment before he felt her nod against his upper arm. The man suspected she'd known this all along, that she had to go back. However, there was probably a reason, too – for her being here, not there, in the first place.
Mira opened her mouth to speak but hesitated. This time, he did not encourage her.
"Will you come with me?" she finally whispered, lifting her head to look up at him.
Bruno's surprised expression quickly transformed into a warm smile. Her request, more than anything else, proved to him that no matter how independent and self-sufficient she appeared, no matter how brave she'd been lately – Mirabel was still a lost, scared child.
He could sympathize.
"Well, of course."
In one swift move, Bruno stood up and offered her his hand.
She gladly took it.
