[the end of the Journey]
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"No, definitely not," Julieta said while she crossed her arms. "I will not allow that marriage." her mother insisted, as she was in the company of her whole family, at a table on one side of the room, while the guests congratulated them from time to time on the engagement.
"Julieta, you cannot object to such a beneficial marriage. Mirabel will have a very comfortable life surrounded by luxury. I already imagined the publication in the newspapers. It will be simply perfect "answered her grandmother with enthusiasm.
"Liliana," Mirabel murmured as she pulled her cousin to the side. "I cannot marry Juan Pablo Escalante, it is rumored that he is a criminal" . Mirabel muttered. "I already told you that those are malicious rumors, Mirabel," Liliana said, as she looked from side to side and continued. "However, let's say it's true, let's say he did some business to acquire land in a not very legal way. Well, that's how business works, that's how fortunes grow, it's still a very profitable marriage, don't you think so?"
Mirabel took a few steps away from Liliana. She understood everything, it wasn't that her grandmother and her cousin didn't believe Juan Pablo was capable of swindling all those people. They just didn't care. Unfortunately, Mirabel did not have the same opinion. She could never marry a criminal like that. Mirabel spent the rest of the night in the company of her parents, who only let her walk away from them to accept an invitation to dance from the new mayor, but she did not move again.
Julieta and Agustín were very tired, but the night could be considered a real success, since Mirabel was safe and alive. They had barely exchanged a word with Juan Pablo. If he had a plan, he would have to put it off for another time. Bruno's prophecy had not come true. The car that took them to the hotel went back to the boarding house where Mirabel lived. She was surprised to find the owner of the place along with other of her roommates sitting around the radio drinking coffee.
"Your boyfriend came to see you. I know I have a policy of not accepting men in the rooms, but I think you owe him a word or two," the owner said. "Did you hear the broadcast of the celebration of the new mayor?" Mirabel asked. All the girls nodded. It was clear that they already knew that she had become engaged to Juan Pablo that night. Mirabel took a deep breath and entered her room. That discussion with Roberto would not be pleasant at all.
Mirabel took the doorknob of her room, opened the door, and felt a painful blow to her stomach. She almost lost consciousness, but before she could fall, someone held her neck against the wall. Mirabel felt the contact of metal against her cheek. She had the courage to open her eyes, as she felt that she was learning to live with the pain. "Juan Pablo," Mirabel murmured. "Not a word, Mirabel" he answered.
She looked at him quickly. It was easy to see why the landlady of the boarding house had mistaken him for Roberto, since he wasn't wearing any of her fancy suits. Instead, he was wearing a black sheep's wool ruana, and a peasant white hat. That was the kind of wardrobe that someone who had just arrived from a farm would wear, not someone fancy like Juan Pablo.
"You are going to give me back what you stole from me," Juan Pablo said, who brought the revolver closer to her face with more aggressiveness. "I don't know what you're talking about" Mirabel lied. "That is not true. I was very surprised when I arrived at my office this morning and the security guard who was changing the night shift asked me if I had found what my secretary and I were looking for, "she said. "What a great coincidence that your cousin has the gift of impersonating people, and that I have not found any of the documents about Encanto."
Mirabel understood she was trapped. He knew she had the documents and that they had broken into his office last night. There was no point in denying it. "I don't have what you want," Mirabel said. "Well, in that case, you're going to look for them, and you're going to hand them over to me," answered Juan Pablo while he threatened her even more forcefully. "Where are the documents?" he asked. "At my grandmother's house in Palermo, where my parents are staying," Mirabel answered, for which he gave her a smile. "Perfect, good girl, then, let's go there"
Juan Pablo took her tightly by her arm, while he pushed her towards the stairs. If the other guests and her landlady saw her passing through the room, they didn't say anything, since they all seemed too amused by the radio to pay attention to Mirabel. She entered an old truck that Juan Pablo had parked in front of the building. "What is all this?" Mirabel asked. "Those clothes and this truck aren't yours," she said, at which he laughed softly.
"I am not as stupid and amateur as you and your family" said Juan Pablo. "I don't plan to leave traces everywhere, my father would kill me if he knew what you did. Do you know what is the best part of this ?" he asked. Mirabel remained silent. She didn't want to answer that question. "Everyone saw your boyfriend going into your room. Poor Roberto Herrera, he must be heartbroken, he was humiliated in front of the entire city, no, in front of the entire country. Also, some of the residents in his building say you guys have some pretty big fights. There is even talk of a broken door and a great scandal. Mirabel Madrigal could appear dead one day, and no one would doubt that it was an act of jealousy from her ex-boyfriend, who is furious at the way she got engaged to another man, "said Juan Pablo.
Mirabel felt her blood run cold at hearing that. Juan Pablo planned to kill her, and blame Roberto for her death, passing it off as some kind of jealousy act. The owner of the boarding house barely knew her boyfriend, and all the other guests had seen a country boy pass by. "You will not get away with it, my family already knows the truth. They know what you did to Encanto." He looked at her with a sneer and said, "This country has the memory of a chicken. Nobody is interested in a bunch of country people in the middle of nowhere, soon the newspapers will stop talking about the stolen lands and everything will be forgotten. However, this would be a juicy scandal. A high society lady murdered by a jealous ex-boyfriend while she was having clandestine relations with him. The newspapers won't notice me, my dear, you'll be the star of the show. Also, your parents won't have any evidence against me, but there will be plenty against your boyfriend."
Mirabel kept silent. Juan Pablo seemed to have thought it all very well. "Where are you taking me?" she asked. "To your grandmother's house in Palermo, I need those documents," he said. After a short drive the two arrived at the house. Juan Pablo took her tightly by the arm and pushed her towards her entrance. She walked towards the door. "Where are those documents?" Juan Pablo asked. "In the living room," Mirabel replied. "Perfect, then, open the door" said Juan Pablo. Mirabel took her key out of her handbag and slowly opened the door. She turned on the light and they both entered very slowly.
Mirabel found the documents on the coffee table in the living room and she began to pick them up very slowly while he pointed the revolver at her. Suddenly, they both heard footsteps, so Juan Pablo ran to hide in the space between the sofa and the window. "If I see anything suspicious, I will kill whoever goes down," said Juan Pablo. She wanted to scream, instead she remained silent as her uncle Bruno approached her.
"It's too late, Mirabel, what are you doing here?" Bruno asked, with a gentle look on his face. "I had to collect the documents, I have to take them to the police tomorrow" Mirabel lied. She knew if she told her uncle the truth, he would also be at risk. "Roberto went to his house as soon as he heard the news of your engagement on the radio, I'd be surprised if you hadn't heard the sound of his heart breaking, I bet the whole town heard it, it was really sad" Bruno said. "It was all a trap from my grandmother Julia. I don't plan to marry that miserable criminal," Mirabel said.
"Aren't you planning to stay for the night?" Bruno asked, as it was too late and there was no point in her trying to get back downtown when it was already midnight. "No Uncle. I…" Mirabel began. "Why don't you go back to your room, Uncle Bruno?" Mirabel asked. "If you don't, all your predictions could come true tonight," she said. Bruno opened his eyes letting her know that he had understood her message.
Bruno went back up the stairs. He was going to ask for help, but Juan Pablo was quicker, as he roughly pushed her back into the truck. Mirabel saw the lights turning on in the house, but he started the engine before she could get any help. Mirabel did not know how much time passed. The two remained silent as he drove. She saw the change in scenery and realized they were leaving the city.
The road looked threatening. Everything was completely dark and there was nothing to be seen but the light of the truck's lamps that illuminated the pavement. Mirabel considered throwing herself from the moving vehicle, but she knew it would be little short of suicide if she did, since he was going at such a high speed. She still held the documents firmly against her chest, as she felt the weight of her snake pendant on her neck. Suddenly the path changed.
They crossed to a road where the pavement no longer existed. Mirabel felt that Juan Pablo slowed down, since the dirt on the road did not allow him to go faster. Mirabel looked through the window and realized that there was a forest outside. Going into it would be very dangerous, but staying would be even worse. Mirabel unlocked the door and dropped down. She felt her clothes and her skin ripping, but she didn't care. Mirabel found the strength to stand up and run as fast as she could while she held the documents against her chest.
Juan Pablo got out of the truck and fired in his direction. Mirabel screamed as she felt the bullet hit the trunk of one of the trees, but she didn't stop, because if she did, he would surely kill her. Juan Pablo never had any intention of leaving her alive. Mirabel looked for the light from a nearby house, but she didn't see anything, only the light of the moon accompanied her while she ran through that forest. Only a miracle could save her from such a desperate situation.
"Help me, please," Mirabel requested as she tightly held onto her snake pendant. Suddenly, she felt an overwhelming urge to change direction. She kept running barefoot, with the little strength she had left, until she reached a dry river in the middle of the forest. Mirabel prepared to cross with great difficulty since it was full of stones. However, someone pushed her to the ground before she could take another step.
Mirabel dropped the documents that were scattered on the floor. "Enough Mirabel, this is the end of the road" said Juan Pablo. She turned and observed him while he stood before her, looking imposing and threatening. "And to think that I thought you were just a pretty empty-headed girl" Juan Pablo scoffed. "Please, don't do this to the people of Encanto, to my family" Mirabel asked. "If you had collaborated a little more it could have been different. If we had gotten married, the Madrigal family house would be yours, and we would be the legitimate owners of more than half of the land that surrounds the town but you had to be very difficult." Juan Pablo Said.
"I could never do something like that. Encanto's existence is a miracle, a gift given to us in the darkest moment, we have the obligation to protect that miracle "Mirabel said as she looked at the threatening face of Juan Pablo. "Too bad for you, you will have to die protecting your miracle for nothing, " said Juan Pablo.
Mirabel closed her eyes and braced herself for the shoot. The miracle appeared in front of her grandmother after her grandfather Pedro had given his life for his children and his community. Perhaps, if she gave her life, the miracle would protect her family and her Encanto. Mirabel closed her eyes and mentally said goodbye to everyone and to her life.
Suddenly, a scream echoed through the darkness of the forest. Mirabel opened her eyes and realized that her snake pendant was glowing, and the emeralds in the animal's eyes had an unnatural shine. However, that was not the reason for Juan Pablo's screams. Something had grabbed his ankle. For a moment, she thought it was a snake, but she quickly realized it wasn't. It was a kind of a stream of water that dragged him towards the river that seemed to grow with water that came out of nowhere.
Mirabel watched the river grow and drag Juan Pablo to the bottom, while she crawled back with the intention of getting away from him. The long water stream dragged him as Mirabel watched him struggle. "Witch, this is the fault of the magic of your disgusting family," Juan Pablo shouted, who with difficulty moved an arm and fired. Mirabel screamed as she felt a stabbing pain in her leg. Hearing her cry, the river seemed to get angry and with a long hand she dragged Juan Pablo to the bottom until he couldn't fight anymore and his body floated lifelessly to the surface.
She watched silently as what appeared to be a snake made of water with glowing green eyes stared at her. "My blessings will be for those who know how to protect and appreciate my gifts, and you are the one chosen by me, you always have been. You must protect my gifts, Mirabel Madrigal, you must keep them together" the snake hissed before disappearing into the river, leaving behind a trail of yellow butterflies that surrounded her. Mirabel dropped into the meadow as she watched the tops of the trees and the sky lighten ever so slowly.
The pain in her leg was getting worse, and if she didn't stop bleeding soon, she would die. "Please, give me one last miracle" Mirabel thought before losing consciousness.
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If this was heaven, then it must be very hard on the body, as every one of her bones ache. Mirabel slowly opened her eyes in the midst of a strong smell of antiseptic. She looked at her uncle Bruno who was dozing in an uncomfortable chair next to her bed, and she immediately understood that she was in the Hospital. Bruno opened his eyes very slowly and smiled at her.
"I knew that prediction had to be incomplete," said Bruno. "Uncle Bruno" Mirabel murmured with a scratchy voice. "The snake in the legend is real, the man in the jungle told you the truth, it really exists, it's the one that gave us the miracle" Mirabel said as she looked at her uncle. "It protected us, because we appreciated it's gift, but it will destroy us if we despise it. He chose me to carry the gift, that's why the house has that connection with me, that's why Casita's magic depends on me, I must keep them together "said Mirabel.
"That explains a lot," Bruno answered. "But now you must sleep," he said. Mirabel rested, which would be necessary. The news of Juan Pablo's death was a scandal. The newspapers said that he had died in the stream of a treacherous river while he tried to assassinate Mirabel. Francisco Vega delighted in exposing each of the terrible events of that night in his column, to the point that members of both parties were beginning to disavow the Escalantes. Some said that it was lucky that he had changed parties, since that showed his true character, while others said that it was understandable since that criminal came from the other party.
Mirabel appeared in the newspapers as a heroine who had saved all those farmers, and her grandmother Julia took delight in her parading her in public in front of all members of society. She didn't know what to think, since all the attention was starting to scare her. Despite the above, Mirabel plucked up the courage to go testify in front of the judge. The Encanto case was easily resolved without the need to go to a judge, since the sale of the land was not formalized. But her help was invaluable in undoing the sale of the lands in the eastern plains.
Alma Madrigal arrived in Bogotá a few days after she woke up, and surprised no one by saying that she would not be staying at Julia Cancino's house, but at a hotel, while Mirabel recovered at the luxurious Cancino house.
"Miss, Mirabel, more flowers have arrived for you, it's about the lands in the eastern plains" said her grandmother's maid as she put a vase on the table next to her bed. "You have a visitor, it's Mr Roberto." Mirabel was glad to hear that. She got up, sat in her temporary wheelchair and fixed herself up as best as she could. "Please send him on," Mirabel said. "Hello Roberto, I didn't see you come in, and my window is over the main entrance" she greeted. "Your grandmother's maid forced me to enter through the service door" answered Roberto.
"I'm so sorry." Mirabel apologized. He shrugged. "You do not have to do it. I guess it must be hard for your grandma to accept that she would go from having a rich grandson in law, owner of half of the country, to having one who is the owner of the clothes he wears, "he said. Mirabel laughed as he led her to the sewing room on the second floor, since her grandmother forbade Roberto's visits to her room. Julia and the maid did not delay, since they were always present, and they were never left alone.
"Señora Julia '' the maid said as she looked out the window "There's a beggar downstairs". Her grandmother Julia watched. "Poor man, he looks terrible, give him some charity so he can buy a suit and get a job" her grandmother replied. Mirabel looked out the window. "It's my uncle Bruno" she said, "and I think he is accompanied by my grandmother Alma".
Bruno sat down on a napkin delicately placed by the maid with the intention of not ruining the furniture, while Julia and Alma debated each other with their eyes. Mirabel was overwhelmed to see these two fierce matriarchs face each other.
"Mirabel will be ready to return to Encanto in a couple of weeks" said Julia "but she will not return, she will stay in the city studying at a technical institute for young ladies" continued Julia Cancino who considered that a victory. "I know, Julieta asked me to pay her tuition, and so I will. Mirabel wants to experience life before she returns to Encanto, and we don't plan to stop her,' Alma said in a fake friendly tone. Suddenly, Julia's smile disappeared.
"Alma, please, stop the false kindness, we both know we can't stand each other, and I don't understand why it has to be that way, we're both on the same side, and we're both the same" said Julia. Alma looked towards Mirabel, Bruno and Roberto. Then she gave Julia a look. "The two of us will never be the same," answered Alma. "I serve my community, my family, I protect them, but you and the kind of people like you do nothing but bleed us dry. We put the dead and you benefit from it," she said. Julia took a long breath and gave her a sarcastic smile.
"Oh yeah?" she asked "do you really think we are worse than the others? They have reached the point where they are in Germany learning those ideas so fashionable there to put them into practice here, truly terrifying" replied Julia.
"Oh please, don't act like you guys are at the top of morality, you're slightly better than the others, but we both know you guys are the same deep down, there's not much difference between you. There are people like Juan Pablo Escalante and his family all over the country, and you sponsor them all. You may now pride yourself on being different, better, but we both know that everything is a little coat of paint, while we will continue to contribute with more death" said Alma "that is why I do not want my granddaughter involved with you, your granddaughter or any member of your shady family. I know you think that we are nothing more than cowards, that we do not know what the true power is, that it is a waste of our gifts to live in a place as far away as Encanto, but it is the path we have chosen, to live in peace and serve our community ".
"Well, Alma, if that's what makes you happy, go back to your little town in the middle of nowhere, and live in peace, without knowing what the real power is," Julia said haughtily.
Mirabel went out that afternoon in the company of her grandmother Alma, Roberto and Bruno. "I can't believe you said all that to that woman," Bruno said. "I told her exactly what I think. People like her are made of lead, born for war, and hate, even thinking about reconciliation is too much for her. I firmly believe that if her party goes on like this something terrible could happen, I don't know, maybe by the year 2000 they could sponsor a terrible murderer as president or something," Grandma said. "Mom, say knock on wood, otherwise the prophecy will come true" Bruno answered.
A week later, Mirabel was fully recovered, so she returned to her boarding house. "I will stay in Bogotá," Camilo said before his surprised family. "I found a place in a law school, I want to be a lawyer. My experience on the council was really interesting, that's what I want to do with my life, if there was a lawyer on the council none of this would have happened" he said proudly. Mirabel knew that this would be a huge effort for Pepa and Félix, but she also knew that it would be a great pride, since he was one of the few men of the family and that is why he would have the opportunity to attend a university.
Mirabel and Camilo looked for an apartment to share as they said goodbye to the other members of their family while promising to return to Encanto during the December holidays for Dolores's wedding.
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"Where is Mirabel?" Alma asked Camilo. "I don't know, grandma, the last time I saw her was when we got off the train that came from Bogotá. She gave me this envelope, but she told me not to open it until I got here,"Camilo replied", sounding very concerned.
"That girl and her shenanigans..." Alma murmured as she opened the envelope in front of the whole family, she took out a letter and read it.
"Dear family:
If my first journey taught me anything, it is that I was wrong not to announce that I would be away for a while. However, this time I want to do things right, so I have decided to write to inform you that Roberto and I have made a last-minute decision: We both want to see the sea. So we decided to take the first train to Santa Marta.
However, we both know that you would never approve of Roberto and I traveling together before we get married, as this is a scandal, and it would be terrible for the family's reputation. But don't worry, if we get into trouble, it doesn't matter, after all we were thinking about getting married, so we got married and everything is solved.
We promise to be home just in time for Dolores's wedding. Don't worry about us, we love you very much.
See ya."
A terrifying silence reigned in the Madrigal house for a few seconds, until grandma slowly took off her reading glasses. "Julieta, your daughter is completely incorrigible," she said. Julieta gave her a nervous smile "she is simply a free and spontaneous spirit".
"She is chaotic," Isabela said.
"If we look at it from the positive point of view, I suppose that when she arrives there will be another wedding to plan" answered Dolores. "Mom will have a nervous breakdown. She still had the hope that Mirabel would leave Roberto and choose one of the high-society boys that she had introduced her to," Agustín answered. Alma's face lit up with happiness.
"Well, in that case, there is nothing that can be done, if they have decided to get married, we have to support them, and give them all our love. I will pay for the wedding myself." Alma announced whose mood had suddenly changed. "Luisa, dear, please help me write a letter to Mrs. Julia Cancino, we have to tell her the good news first hand, before anyone else does" said Alma, who left happily in the company of her granddaughter. "I think it would be such a great idea to transcribe Mirabel's letter".
"That would be really mean, grandma," Luisa answered.
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Far away from there, Mirabel was looking at the sea on the beach, while the breeze hit her face and made her dress flutter. Roberto and her arrived in the city at noon, so they decided to find a hotel and stay there. Neither of them had planned to make this scandalous trip, so they had to lie and say that they were a couple of newlyweds on their honeymoon.
However, that did not stop them from having fun like never before. They had never left the highlands of the mountains and the savannah, so everything was new and very exciting. "We'll get into serious trouble," said Roberto as he stood next to her. "I know, but it doesn't matter," Mirabel answered. Roberto laughed, "You are a terrible influence, you are the worst of influences" he said. "I still don't understand why everyone tells me that," Mirabel answered. "I feel alive when I'm with you" replied Roberto who put his arm around Mirabel's shoulders and kissed her on the lips.
"You'll get in trouble because of me," Mirabel said. "I don't care," answered Roberto. Mirabel kissed him again.
It had been almost a year since she had left her house. Mirabel didn't know how to explain it, but despite the fact that she still lived far from Encanto, things were completely different. She no longer felt that rage that had guided her a year ago, she simply wanted to make a life, before receiving the magic of the house.
She knew that her journey was not over yet, this was one more step of many that she had to take, but if something had become clear to her, it was that despite the fact that she had many around her who loved her, she had the tools to continue. She was enough.
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[The End]
Today is my free day and there is nothing more satisfying than hitting the complete button. :D thank you all for all the support.