As dinner went on Mirabel kept a close eye on her Tio Bruno.
He had been shaking like a leaf sitting down, then he had shaken a little less while talking with Antonio. And Mirabel was sincerely happy to see how easily Bruno managed to talk with his youngest Sobrino.
Then again. Antonio was like that. He was irresistible.
Barely had they managed to say their prayer before Bruno just broke together, and Mirabel could not blame him for a second.
The thought of all of those lonely dinners he must have had in the past, sitting at that painted plate while they were on the other side of the wall chatting and laughing.
Bruno wasn't the only one crying though, they were pretty much all crying. This was probably fortunate because it took the focus off Bruno and after having gasped a bit for breath he could return to his food. Clearly putting great concentration into the simple task of eating while tears still rolled down his face.
He ate very slowly and very carefully, he had too, his hand was still shaking, and in spite of Bruno's scruffy appearance, he did seem to care about cleanliness and neatness.
It was honestly amazing to think about. Mirabel remembered Bruno's room back in the wall and there had been a clothesline with extra clothes hanging out to dry which proved that Bruno kept his clothes clean!
He actually looked really damn good for a guy who had been living in the walls for ten years Mirabel realized.
Finally, Bruno put down a fork, looking very guilty as he looked at his plate where it looked like he had barely even made a dent into it.
He was shaking and hissing as he squinted his eyes. Fumbling under the table and did his knocking thing again while mumbling something and Pepa was looking worried at him.
"Too many sounds Tio?" Dolores suddenly asked and they all turned to her. "I get that. Sometimes there are just too many sounds. And it's really overwhelming."
And they all nodded suddenly realizing indeed. Sometimes Dolores had to go into her room to get some quiet, too overwhelmed. They all knew it and all accepted it. And the familiarity did make people relax.
"Bruno." Pepa put a hand on her brother's shoulder making his head snap up. "Do you need to go to another room?"
"Huh?" Bruno looked at her. "Oh… No… I didn't mean to. I want to… I mean." he stammered.
"It's okay Hermano." Julieta smiled. "You can take your plate with you."
Bruno looked at his plate, now looking a little green. "Erhm… Thank you. But I don't…" he swallowed and pushed the plate away.
"But." Pepa gasped. "You barely ate any!"
"Because he can't," Alma spoke. "It's like when we were on the run from the soldiers. There was barely any food so we ate very little. In the first year here at the Encanto, there was barely any food either. Then when suddenly we had a lot of food. We thought we could just eat… But we couldn't. Those who tried anyway got sick. Some even vomited."
Startled everyone looked at Alma.
"It is better that he eats what he can and don't throw up than him overeating and getting sick." Alma started firmly and Bruno looked at her in startled surprise. "You have done very well Brunito." she smiled directly at him. A soft and real looking smile. Clearly freaking Bruno out a little.
"I…" Bruno swallowed. "I should be able to do more," he said. "I just… I just…" he shook his head.
"In time Hijo. In time." Alma said calmly.
"It's like my bee stings," Agustin said in a clear voice, and everyone looked at him and his sorry state. "They are going to be fine but it's just going to take some time…. And maybe some medicine," he said. "Excuse me I have to go lay down." he stood up and swayed a bit on his legs until Julieta grabbed him to hold up her husband that looked pretty out of it. "Thank you mi amor." he gasped, cold sweat clearly running down his head.
"Mirabel, would you show Brunito to a bed?" Alma asked.
"Yes." Mirabel stood up and walked around the table so she could approach her Tio. "Come on Tio. You have already done so much today. I mean like… a lot."
Bruno glanced up at Mirabel and then swallowed as slowly he stood up. "Thanks," he whispered as Mirabel took him by the arm and lead Bruno away into one of the other rooms.
Bruno gasped as he allowed his Sobrina to guide him away from the table. Bruno was partway thankful because he didn't know how much more he could take before he just broke again. But also he really didn't want to leave.
What if they changed their minds? What if this was just a dream and he was about to wake up? It seemed like a dream. All of this was just… Way too unreal.
Finally, Mirabel opened a door for Bruno to reveal a room that had multiple beds, two closets, a bookshelf with a few old worn out books displayed. There was a nightstand with a bible on it and just a single lonely house plant on the windowsill.
The room was unfamiliar to Bruno… And it made him shudder. Everything was so strange and unfamiliar.
Well… sitting with his sisters had been incredibly familiar. But also it seemed like a hopeless dream he still couldn't quite comprehend.
"There's a bathroom just down the hall." Mirabel pointed. "And there's a shower too if you want it. Or you can just rest. That's fine. Oh I suppose we need to find you a change of clothes… Boy we all need a change of clothes. We only got what we are wearing. I'm sure someone in town has something. They did all say we should just ask."
Bruno swallowed as he looked at Mirabel. Another unbelievable memory playing in his mind… Had it really been real.
When the townspeople came and were ready to accuse Bruno of this disaster. Bruno had been ready to scream and run.
But the family had been standing up, all of them. And clearly said.
"Bruno isn't going anywhere."
Bruno gasped for breath and exhaled.
"OH! And here!" Mirabel rushed to the shelf and pulled down a bowl to put it on the nightstand within reach.
Bruno's eyes widened as he realized. It was a bowl of salt. Stunned did Bruno look at Mirabel who stood back. His lips moving in odd ways.
"Are you okay?" Mirabel asked.
Bruno nodded. "Sorry… This is just… A lot." his body was shaking again and he had to wipe a tear away yet again.
"It is." Mirabel agreed. "And I mean a lot," she stated. "It may not look like it Tio. But you have been super brave today."
Bruno looked up at Mirabel.
"Only the fewest would ever dare speak back to my Abuela," Mirabel smirked amused. "Coming out of the walls. Talking with the family. Eating a meal with us. Those are huge things, Tio. And you've done so much better than most would have."
"I feel like a child." Bruno groaned. "But I'm an old man. I should be better than this. I shouldn't need these things."
"You did great. Trust me!" Mirabel stated. "It has only been one day." she held up a finger. "Take a breather. We'll be there when you are ready for some more."
Bruno nodded. "Okay."
"If you need anything. Just say the word." Mirabel asked.
Bruno nodded. "I… I'm sorry to be such a burden I."
"Tio!" Mirabel exclaimed. "You saved my life yesterday. Remember?"
Bruno blinked. "I… Did?"
"The tower." Mirabel reminded him. "You were the one who opened the door letting me out right?"
"Oh… yeah," Bruno admitted.
"And you threw yourself after me when I was about to fall down into that hole!" Mirabel said.
"That hole wasn't actually that deep." Bruno pointed out.
"That's beside the point. Neither of us knew then and you threw yourself after me!" Mirabel proclaimed. "And then rode out and confronted Abuela for me! Even though you admitted it before that you're scared of her. You." she poked a finger at Bruno's chest. "Are not a burden. Comprende?"
Stunned Bruno nodded.
"And you are not a coward. Far from it." Mirabel stated. "I mean look at you. Having anxiety but doing your thing anyway. Now that's bravery. I think it's a book quote or something. What was it?" she asked.
"Bravery is not the lack of fear. That's just foolishness. Bravery is being afraid because you know what is at stake. But doing what is right anyway." Bruno helped her along.
Mirabel blinked as she looked at Bruno.
"Frederich Nietzche… He was this German philosopher I think." Bruno replied.
"Well, he had a point," Mirabel smirked amused. "And a great one at that! So by that logic, you are the definition of brave!"
Bruno blinked stunned.
"You were even scared of the cracks," Mirabel smirked.
"Terrified," Bruno admitted.
Mirabel shook her head. "You worked super hard for ten years. Take a rest."
Slowly Bruno nodded.
"You're going to be okay in here?" Mirabel asked.
Bruno nodded again. "I just… I think I'm going to lay down." his whole body was shaking again. "That's a bigger meal than I had for a long time. I feel stuffed."
Mirabel smirked. "I think you have to get used to it. There are people out there ready to stuff food down your throat. You're all skin and bones."
"It's not that bad." Bruno objected. "I've always been thin."
"Your wrist is thinner than mine." Mirabel pointed out and Bruno shut his mouth closed.
"Oh…"
Mirabel shook her head. "Not to worry. It can be fixed!" she stated. "And you are doing super well. Believe me."
"Heh… Erhm… Thanks." Bruno blushed and then swayed a bit, his mind going foggy. "I'm just going to… Lay down," he said.
Mirabel nodded. "You do that."
And as Bruno slowly laid down, his rats settling in the blankets with him Mirabel quietly left the room.
Barely had she gotten out though before she ran right into her mother. "I just… I just made sure your Papa was fine and I just…" Julieta stammered.
"He's fine," Mirabel assured. "Just overwhelmed."
Still, Julieta looked nervous and wasn't satisfied before she took a peek through the door to get a glance at her brother. And they didn't manage more than a few steps before Pepa came running.
"Sorry! Sorry, I just… He was actually here right?" Pepa asked. "He was here?"
Mirabel rolled her eyes as Pepa had her peak too. Just to make sure that Bruno was actually real. And as they returned to the dining room where everyone else was finishing up eating and slowly leaving. Alma was suddenly heading towards the bedrooms.
"I just need to check on him," Alma stated. "Just in case."
Mirabel looked at all the adults around her. "None of you are going to leave him alone for the next couple of weeks are you?"
"Well, that's his fault for pulling that kind of vanishing act." Pepa pouted.
Mirabel snorted amused. "Well… He kind of deserves that." she had to admit amused and the three women smiled a little amused as well.
