For the next couple of days. There was no one happier in the world than Dolores. She was nothing but giggles and snorts. As if she had just remembered something and then giggled again.
And every time she saw Bruno she would go for the hug and then move on.
It made Bruno blush a little awkwardly. Out of all of the younger family members. Dolores had been the one to act like Bruno's presence was just… natural. Nothing special, and she smiled at him and hugged him.
"It's so great actually seeing you." Dolores had said on one of his first days back. "I like hearing and seeing you! Being able to touch is nice too," she said poking his nose.
At the time Bruno had just laughed awkwardly, not really knowing how to react, but Dolores didn't seem to mind at all. Just smiled and gave him a little hug then moved on.
Dolores's happiness with Mariano delighted and confused Bruno a great deal… All he could conclude was that he had gotten the vision wrong. Mariano had never actually become betrothed to Isabela. He was free as a bird to pursue Dolores and it seemed to go really well.
So how many other visions had Bruno simply gotten… Wrong? Of course, the thing about his visions was that they would often be very vague. A snapshot of the future lacking any context or reason which made them confusing at the best of times.
Still, Bruno was now sitting in the corner of one of the couches, one leg raised up so he could lean his elbow on it, and lean his chin in his hand as he frowned deeply. A couple of rats just casually running over him.
Mirabel blinked as she stepped in. "Tio Bruno?" she asked.
Bruno blinked as he seemed to come out of it and turned to Mirabel. "Oh. Mirabel."
"Snack time," Mirabel smirked as she held up an orange. Bruno had worked himself up to finishing his plates, but he hadn't really gained much weight at all. Probably didn't help that he was very physically active doing the day. So all they could really do was add even more calories. And that meant at least one piece of fruit before bedtime.
"Gracias." Bruno smiled as he reached out accepting the orange and mindlessly started to peel it.
"So." Mirabel tilted her head. "You seemed a little lost in thought."
"Well, I…" Bruno commented then frowned. "You see… Normally in the past. When I had a vision. It always came true." he said. "But now…"
"Ah. Dolores and Mariano." Mirabel nodded.
"It's good! I'm really happy." Bruno said. "I'm just… confused."
Mirabel nodded again and then moved over so she could sit on the couch next to Bruno.
Bruno bit his lip as he continued to slowly peel an orange. "What if I got it wrong all this time?" he asked in a whisper. "What if… So many things could have been avoided if I had just looked harder?" he asked. "Or tried harder? Or…" he halted.
Mirabel swallowed as she looked at Bruno. But didn't say anything, allowing him to speak.
"I guess it doesn't matter I mean…. It's the past and. Pff. No magic anymore anyway." Bruno said. "I just… What if I went about it the wrong way?" he asked. "And I could have… Done things the right way?"
Mirabel shook her head. "I think you did things as well as anyone possibly could have," she said.
Bruno frowned deeply. "That's… Really nice of you to say," he said. "But… I tended to screw things up. Like a lot." he swallowed. "And time went on. I grew older but I never accomplished anything…. I don't want to just be a house squatter."
"You're not!" Mirabel gasped. "Mama and Tia Pepa are talking so much about it now. How you were always helping around the house. And took care of us! Oh and Tio Bruno, have you ever taken the time to just look at these." she darted up to the shelves to pull down some of Bruno's writing. "You're a writer! A bonified, real, writer!" She beamed happily. "And you fixed our house! And listened to our problems! You did a lot of stuff." and she lowered the papers. "And you're doing a lot of stuff now… I thought we had established this. Those magic gifts are not the important part."
"Also knowing what you are not supposed to know is its own burden."
Both Bruno and Mirabel turned their heads to see Dolores there.
"Sorry… I heard you at the door." Dolores whispered.
Bruno smirked. "It wouldn't be you if you weren't noisy. Hi Dolores." he smiled warmly and Dolores skitted in to give Bruno a short hug. Then sat down in a crouch in front of them. Looking at Bruno and Mirabel with her large eyes.
"How was your date?" Mirabel asked.
"Wonderful." Dolores sighed deeply. "Mariano talked all night. About his favorite poet. And I could just listen and listen."
Mirabel smirked. She honestly couldn't imagine just sitting being quiet for an entire evening while a guy was talking her ear off.
Well, Mirabel didn't mind when it was a funny story like what Bruno or Camilo would tell… But poetry? Oh well. That was why Mariano wasn't the man of her dreams.
Bruno smiled, then his smile faltered. "I'm glad I got the vision wrong," he said sincerely. "You deserve the man of your dreams."
Dolores shrugged. "I shouldn't have let Isabela talk you into having a vision for us. You had already told us no," she said. "Hmm." she tapped on her lip. "Funny. I remember this guy who once told me… I had a right to say no. I have the right to decide when to use my gift or not use it. I am sure there was this guy telling me that."
"Oh." Bruno blinked then chuckled a little amused. "I guess there was."
Dolores looked at Bruno. "You should never have to use your gift in the first place if you don't want to," she said. "Pretty sure that is what that guy was telling me."
Mirabel looked from one to the other. "So… That guy is Bruno himself right? Or am I getting that wrong?"
Dolores giggled. "You got it right!" she beamed happily. "He was kind of the only one advocating that we shouldn't use our gifts as much as we did."
Mirabel's eyes were wide and she turned to Bruno. "Really?" she asked.
"Yeah," Bruno muttered. "I hated that we were putting so much pressure on children!" he said, suddenly his voice rising. "I hated it! If you ask me none of them should have been allowed gifts at least until they were like… I don't know. Sixteen maybe I'm not sure. They need to figure out who they are first!" he exclaimed. "And at least know that a gift is a burden! It's a burden for everybody who has it!" he exclaimed. "Even the really good ones like your Mama's cooking. She still felt responsible when she hadn't arrived in time or just ran out of food. As if suddenly all ailments in the town were her fault. Even if she was six. It's awful! Just awful!"
Mirabel nodded and Dolores opened her mouth. Only for Mirabel to press a finger against Dolores's lips.
"Sssh. Let him speak." Mirabel instructed.
"And the ceremonies." Bruno ranted. "Public ceremonies! For five year olds? And without knowing what the gift is going to be? What if it was going to be something no one liked? You would just put a child on display like that. Like a little new Messiah for the Encanto to enjoy!? And no one listened to me. Nobody!" he exclaimed. "I tried to tell them but… I was worrying about nothing. Well sorry! SORRY that my own gift destroyed my childhood and I did not want that to happen to anyone else!"
And he stopped… And Bruno gasped for breath.
Mirabel swallowed. "Tio." her eyes were wet. And then she sniffed and then she threw herself at Bruno hugging him.
Bruno's eyes widened.
"Bruno…"
Bruno's eyes widened and then he saw multiple people at the door.
Julieta… Pepa… Agustin… Felix… Alma!
Bruno's eyes widened. "You… You all heard that?" he asked.
They all nodded.
"I… I'm sorry." Bruno stammered, his hand now flying all around the place until he found the wall and could knock his little chant.
And then Alma cried and she rushed forward and she hugged her son. "My Brunito. My brave wonderful Brunito!" she gasped.
"Ma… Mama." Bruno gasped.
"I am so sorry! I should have listened!" Alma said. "We should have listened! You have the ability to see. But what use is that when we didn't listen? I am so sorry."
Bruno swallowed.
"Is that really how you feel?" Pepa asked.
Bruno looked up, looking filled with guilt. "I…" he halted as Alma slowly moved away. "When I left… I… Saw the vision. About the magic breaking." he swallowed. "And I knew it was happening…. But what I realized is. I didn't care." he said then pulled his legs up into his chest. "I didn't care if the magic was going away. I just… I didn't want anyone to blame Mirabel. That's it."
Mirabel's lip quivered and he sniffed.
"I'm sorry," Bruno whispered. "I know that's awful. You all loved your gifts. Just because I didn't like mine is no reason that you should suffer."
"No. Mijo." Alma whispered. "You saw clearer than any of us. And saw what was truly important… And it wasn't the magic."
And now Pepa and Julieta were crying too. Agustin was sniffing as well. They had to make a line so everyone could get their turn just hugging Bruno.
And Bruno swallowed as he broke together once again. It had been a while but it was another milestone they had to go through.
"You really didn't like your gift?" Pepa asked concerned as they started to settle on different couches.
"I hated it." Bruno gasped. "People were just asking and asking and asking. Give me a vision Bruno! I demand a vision! It is your job to give me a vision! And I did what they wanted. I did exactly what they wanted. Did that make them happy?" he asked. "No! Now it's my fault that the dog got diarrhea. And I know it's what is going to happen. I tell people! You might not like what you see. They demand a vision anyway and again! My fault! Bruno's fault! He's creepy. He makes bad things happen. He killed the bloody goldfish. WELL YOU ASKED FOR IT!" he shouted. "And it just kept going and going and going." he grabbed his face. "It never ended. There was no way out… I just wanted out. But I didn't know how to." he gasped. "And I saw the things too! I saw it. I didn't want to see it but I did! Over.. And over... And over." he gasped for breath. "And I needed to help the family… But how to? My gift was all I had!… I just." he slumped back. "I didn't know what to do." he covered his face.
People were silent, and there were tears in all of their eyes.
Then slowly Mirabel picked up the orange that had been dropped on the table and finished peeling it. Offering a piece to Bruno who took it and he swallowed. "Sorry," he whispered.
"No Hijo. No." Alma held up a hand. "We are so happy to finally be let in," he said and Bruno glanced up as he was slowly biting his piece of orange.
Julieta swallowed. "The stairs," she whispered. "The stairs were getting longer and longer. Our rooms change according to our wants or… needs. So you."
"I didn't want people in the vision room anymore," Bruno muttered. "I didn't want anyone in there. I… I didn't want to give visions anymore. I wanted it to stop."
They all looked sadly at him.
Mirabel swallowed. "Is that also why the entrance looked so scary? To scare people away from the cave."
Bruno nodded a little ashamed.
"Well that may not have been the best call." Mirabel had to admit.
"I know." Bruno sighed deeply resting a hand towards his forehead. "I just didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to say... No. Or tell anyone I didn't want it anymore." He bit his lip. "I don't blame people for being mad," Bruno said. "Who wants to know that something bad is going to happen?" he asked. "But…. Why then keep asking?" he asked. "Why couldn't they just… Leave me alone?" he squinted his eyes. "I just… I just…" he whispered. "Wanted to disappear."
Julieta swallowed as she wrapped an arm around her brother and he leaned against her. Closing his eyes.
"Sometimes the family was all that kept me going." Bruno muttered. "But it was hard... I felt like... I kept letting everyone down. I should have... Been more. Been of use. Not just a burden... You were doing so much! And I was just... Being useless! I used to wish I was more normal." Bruno swallowed. "Getting married too. Have children… Making the family proud. I just… It seemed impossible. I didn't really see a point in even trying anymore."
Now Pepa was in front of him on her knees holding Bruno's hand. Her eyes were wet. "Bruno," she whispered. "I don't want you to be different. Or be another person. I don't want some stranger. I want you." she swallowed. "And besides." she blushed looking down. "You basically already have six children anyway."
"Yup." Mirabel grinned. "That's my Tio."
"You are making me proud Hijo." Alma gasped. "And I love you. We all love you. You understand?"
Bruno nodded as he squinted his eyes, sobbing in his sisters embraced him again.
Mirabel smiled warmly giving the older generation room to fuss over her Tio. It was another massive breach. And once again Bruno had done so well. Even if he didn't see it himself.
Their new foundation was going to be a very strong one.
