The favoritism started early, even as early as the day the first Madrigal grandchild was born. Isabela was doted on as an only child in the family for a few days until her cousin Dolores would follow her into the world. Even as the family adjusted to two small infants in the home, Abuela still drifted to Isabela more often than to Dolores. She would go so far as to proclaim Isabela's perfectness at every opportune moment and yet not utter a single word of Dolores. Both girls had a quiet and calm temperament as infants. Both girls were obedient as children could be. Both girls had so much love to give. But only one would be Alma Madrigal's favored golden child in the years to come.
Dolores never resented Isabela for receiving all the attention, but Isabela had to fight not to resent Dolores for not being the one in the spotlight of perfection. Perfection was a burden Isabela never once wanted, but felt she had no choice in the matter ever since her gift had come and she could bloom the most beautiful and exquisite flower blossoms. It was this she was praised for in addition to her perceived perfection. At first, she loved the positivity it gave her, from Abuela but also from the townspeople. It wasn't until she was a young teen that this perfection really began to drain and drain her until she felt she had no room to grow into who she wanted to be. She wasn't allowed to make mistakes or grow like her plants did. It rather felt like she was stuck in a pot, never reaching her fullest potential even as she hoped for her Tio's vision to come true. One day she knew her power would finally be free to grow.
No such positivity was sent Dolores's way. Her gift was seen as gossipy, nosy, and altogether hurtful. Why did she hear everything for miles around? Was she simply that nosy that she manifested a gift that would allow her to know everyone's dirty laundry? Would she share the secrets people tried to keep? Nobody knew her well enough to know, even at five and so they simply avoided her at all costs. Even if they knew she could hear them wherever they went, they still turned their backs and whispered whenever she was around; some of them would even leave the room altogether if they could.
Dolores was quiet from the day she was born. She seemed to listen to what was around her more than she did make noise, and when she finally did talk it was so quiet you could almost not understand what she was saying. She was fine with this, with not being the first choice or even the last choice. She was fine with this until her Tio Bruno's vision began to come true. She had hoped it would change over time, but alas it did not seem to be altered by the events of her life. She was no longer fine with any of this and began to harbor a small shred of resentment for Isabela when the man of her dreams was slated to court, woo, and form an engagement with her cousin.
If you asked Mariano his thoughts of the two eldest Madrigal girls he would give you a charming smile and give you an honest answer - he didn't know them well enough but would love the chance to get to know the beautiful women better. After his mother began arranging with Alma for him to begin courting Isabela, his answer would be that he was quite pleased to meet Isabela and they were getting along well. However, if you knew him well, and you knew about his nightly poetry writing, you would know all was not as it seemed. For in his nightly poems, he described a girl with curly hair who often wore a scarf tied in a knot beneath the bun atop her head. A girl with impeccable hearing, quiet and lovely. He too held a flame for one out of his reach. He loved his mother, wanted to take care of her and make her proud. And this? Entering into a relationship with Isabela Madrigal that she was arranging for him? This would make her proud. For once in his life, he longed to be a selfish man so that he could disappoint his mother and follow his heart to the one who had stolen it from him.
If only, they would each whisper as they thought about their dreams. If only.
