10 years later
"Hey, where's everyone going?" Gloria asked, looking out the kitchen window.
I set the book I was holding on the counter and walked to her side. Lo and behold, it seemed everyone in the village was starting to leave their houses and make their way toward the Madrigal house…or at least what was left of it. My tía Esmerelda heard it through the grape vine that the Madrigal's magic was waning and was on its last leg. Then, out of nowhere, the house collapsed and all the magic that was contained within it was gone.
"I guess they're going to help rebuild the Madrigal house." I responded, leaving the window and sitting back down in a chair to continue my book.
"Hope they have fun." papa muttered as he too watched the villagers walk towards the Madrigal house. Ever since the failure that was my proposal night, papa stuck true to his word that he would no longer have anything to do with the Madrigals. Not just him, but it seemed everyone in my family followed his example. Once great friends, tío Samuel no longer spoke to Felix (the husband of Pepa) and my sister Gloria was no longer allowed to play with Mirabel. This led to the Madrigals shunning us as well, though it hardly went noticed as we were the ones who initiated the fallout. Even in passing, not even a glance their way was seen.
However, we also quickly found they had an advantage on us given their gifts. Thanks to Isabela's gift, we had to be careful to not place flowers in windowsills as they would be gorgeous and thriving one minute, and then droopy and dead the next. We also quickly found to be careful who we talked to as those we believed to be a family friend soon shapeshifted into sneaky Camilo who now knew more than he needed. But, we also learned to be self-sufficient and create our own medicines since we no longer bought Julieta's meals. Multiple family members also developed their muscles and built new additions to our house since we no longer relied on Luisa to move materials.
As for me, in the past 10 years I've had multiple men make offers to my father to propose but none passed his tests. He would not put them through vigorous trials to examine how they performed. These trials varied from carrying multiple bricks up hills, keeping a plant alive for months, cooking for the family, and multiple others. However, I quickly discovered he wasn't interested in how well they were for me, but how independent they were from the Madrigals. I've lost track of how often he ate dinner and barely touched his food, opting to instead complain about the suiter he tested that day and how lazy the town was becoming. Still, as the years progressed the less suiters wanted to try and endure his trials and began not trying at all.
Bruno stayed in my mind the first couple years after the lost proposal, but he slowly began to be nothing more than a fainting memory I pushed to the back of my mind. He still crossed it in the later years, I can't deny that. But it was more of "I hope he's happy." or "Hope he's doing well." Nothing compared the heartache I first experienced when he disappeared. I stopped referring to him as a lost love when I spoke of him and instead started talking of him as a lost friend. But even that faded away and now I rarely speak of him at all. No real connection or association.
I walked out to the back garden to grab fresh tomatoes for lunch when I noticed something in the dirt. Tiny footprints leading to the fence, and then making a sharp angle away from the fence towards our shed. I cocked my head slightly as I walked closer to the shed, noticing its door slightly ajar.
"Oh no, looks like the garden gremlins are back!" I gasped. "And after all my hard work." I placed one hand on the shed's doorhandle and slowly placed my shoulder to the door. "But luckily, looks like I caught one!" I slammed my shoulder on the door, quickly shutting it. Not long after I shut it, I heard the loud banging of garden supplies crashing down and the tiniest of screams.
"Let me out, it's too dark!" A tiny voice squealed.
"My, my. A gremlin that's scared of the dark? What a rare breed." I smiled
"Rosa it's me, Julio! Please let me out!" My little brother yelled, smacking his hands against the door.
"Hmm…that's just what a garden gremlin would want me to think." I said, trying to hold back a laugh before finally opening the door to reveal my seven-year-old brother. "What are you doing in there?"
"I wanted to go help the Madrigals with their house, but I knew papa wouldn't let me. And then I heard the door open and I thought it was him so I hid." Julio said, looking down at his feet.
I bent down at his level and took his hands in mine "Julio, which do you think would make papa angrier? Knowing you went somewhere you weren't supposed to, or looking for you and not being able to find you anywhere?"
There was a long silence followed by a tiny "Both?"
I nodded my head and stood up. "Exactly, now come on, I'll make you some lunch." I began trying to guide him back towards the house, but he wouldn't budge.
"No! I won't go! I want to help!" he screamed, trying to get out of my hand.
"Julio! This is not how you act!" I yelled back. When I went to scoop him up and carry him back to the house, he managed to bite my hand and I had no choice but to let go. He started racing toward the fence gate and before I could get another hold on him he managed to unlock it and began racing toward the Madrigal house.
"Julio!" I yelled, beginning to race after him. Unfortunately, he was covered in his favorite color green so trying to find him as he ran away from me in the grass and around trees proved to be extremely difficult. I know the Madrigals would never even think to harm a child and would only simply return Julio back to our house, maybe with a candy or two. But my biggest concern was if they were to return Julio to our house, how big of a fit papa would throw. Accuse the Madrigals of trying to steal his child and the argument(s) that would bring about.
Finally I reached the bottom of the hill, still frantically looking for Julio. But, no sooner had I stopped running, a light suddenly flashed in front of me and a warmth felt like it was washing over me. I looked ahead of me and saw the Madrigal house fully restored and thriving with life again. I couldn't help but gasp at the beauty that was now enriched the house and everything surrounding it. Cheers quickly filled the valley as all the villagers and the Madrigal family embraced one another. I kept my eyes on the house and watched as a new family portrait graced the front door. Still, as I stared at the door, I noticed a member of the family I didn't expect to see on the door. "Bru-"
"Rosa!" my little brother's voice rang out from the crowd. "Rosa did you see it?! The magic's back!" I saw Julio running towards me, shouting my name. I quickly put my finger to my mouth as a signal for him to be quiet. I knew the Madrigals would never hurt my brother, but me…I wasn't too sure of. Especially given everything my family had said to them in the past.
"Rosa, did you feel the magic?!" Julio continued to shout and point. He seemed to stop for a second before he made a beeline into the crowd.
"Oh no!" I yelled before quickly trying to follow him. As I ran through the crowd of dancing and celebrating villagers, I strained my ears for any sign of my brother screaming my name, or just yelling anything. "Julio!" I shouted, pushing a few people out of my way. "Julio!" I shouted again, this time with some desperation in my voice. I saw a small opening in the crowd and I what I thought to be a speck of my brother's green clothing. I quickly rushed to where I saw it and grabbed onto it as soon as it was within reach
"Now, you're coming home with m-" I quickly stopped myself when I realized the clothing had more weight to it than any seven-year-old should possess. I slowly looked up from where my hand was grabbing and found myself staring at a VERY recognizable face.
"Hi..." The man grinned, giving me an awkward wave
"Bruno?!"
