Authors Note:
Thanks for reviewing! It really motivates me to write more, I mean this was supposed to be a one shot, but we are somehow on chapter 3? Most reviews are just telling me that I made you cry but even those make me immensely happy as they show me that the story really gripped you and that it was written well enough to really immerse you into the story, so again thanks you guys are great!
I've edited chapters 1 and 2 a little, chapter 1 had some beauty mistakes and chapter 2 was way to chunky for my liking so I separated the paragraphs a little a lot.
Hugging herself for comfort she traipses through the wreckage of casita looking around at her family. Her now grieving family, their now grieving family, she corrects herself as she looks at a very familiar man standing in the wreckage.
It was jarring to wake up next to your own body but thankfully her abuelo Pedro was there to extend his hand and help her off of the ground. He hasn't said anything yet, just looked at her with sad eyes. She hasn't said anything to him yet either, still trying to process what has happened.
She first walks over to her parents, the people who bought her into this world, who have loved her unconditionally. But she can't stand to look at her distraught father or listen to her mother's inconsolable cries for long.
A few feet further she sees her older sister still sitting next to that ugly-as-sin white blanket, frozen in place, soaked to the bone.
As if leaving her body unguarded there would be the ultimate betrayal, like she doesn't want her to be the only one left behind in the rain. Someone needs to get her inside before she catches her death out here.
Death.
Swallowing deeply, she turns around running from her own thoughts, seeing her other sister bend over a rock…
A rock.
A lot of rocks crushed her…
Shaking her head a little she refocuses on her sister.
Her sweet, sensitive sister tried so hard to save her. God, she can already see the self-deprecating thoughts running through her head.
This was her sisters greatest fear, for something to come for the family and being unable to stop it. Too weak to protect them...
She touches Luisa's torn and bloody hands, someone should clean her wounds. At least until mama can manage again.
Looking over at her cousin fearing that she would be overwhelmed by all the sounds flying at her, she is shocked to find Dolores being carried away by Mariano covered in blood.
Blood.
Her blood, covering Dolores' hands, spread all over dress. And Dolores herself seems to be in a trance like state, shutting out everything around her.
Felix and Antonio seem to have found one another at least… though when she hears part of their conversation she quickly turns away, not ready to hear about her death so blatantly.
Camilo is being escorted away by a couple villagers, he seems mostly okay though he does keep his head hanging low. It's not like Camilo to avoid eye contact she thinks frowning, worried how this will affect the gentle jester of the family.
Pepa seems to be expressing her feelings, for once not even trying to hide her emotions. Anger radiates of her poor aunt. Reminding her of a story Emmanuel once told her.
'First came the earthquakes, turning their world upside down and then came the tsunamis to wash away all they had left.'
Her Tia Pepa is quaking with anger and soon the anger will give way to waves of sadness.
Oh, and her poor Tio Bruno. She left him all alone as an outcast. Putting a hand on his shoulder she whispers to him.
''It's going to be okay Bruno, you'll be fine'' Mirabel says, ''The family will love you, I'll make sure of it.'' Not knowing how she would accomplish this but determent she will.
Spotting her abuela on the cold ground, she feels conflicted. She loves her abuela but a part of her is also angry at her for not believing her, for not listening to her, for not loving her…
Rain pelts down as the clouds thunder above her, yet she doesn't get wet. Not even a little, nor is she cold.
''I don't feel any of it. Is that normal?'' Mirabel asked looking torn.
''It is little butterfly, we can't touch what is on that side and whatever is on that side can't touch us.'' The man answers softly, looking saddened for having to explain that to her.
''We can see and hear them but they can't hear or see us, can they?'' Mirabel looks at him with tears in her eyes, distraught by the thought of it.
Grabbing both her hands he looks her in those very familiar eyes filled with great sadness and shakes his head. Holding her as she finally breaks down crying, crying for her family, for casita, the village and at last crying for herself and the unfairness of it all.
Pedro holds his crying granddaughter, tearing up himself. He loves his family more than they could ever imagine but he never wanted to meet his granddaughter so soon.
Looking at his children his heart fills with pain. His fiery Pepa always pushed to control her feelings to keep her sadness and pain under wraps. His dear Julieta, suffering a pain he can't even imagine. And his sweet Bruno, his sensitive soul crushed by the perceived darkness of his gift.
His grandchildren scarred for life. Trapped by their gifts and what they are supposed to project at all times. Forever marked by the mistakes of their elders. He wishes Alma had talked to someone instead of keeping in all the pain.
After his death he watched her and his children and later his grandchildren from the other side. He saw how cold and rigid his sweet Alma had grown. She didn't cry, rarely laughed, and never talked to their old friends about the past. If she did speak with them it was all about the kids or grandkids.
Never grieving, never stopping to feel, never taking the time to deal with the pain and loneliness that was filling her body.
Never considering how it affected her and how her untreated wounds bloodied the rest of their family. Slowly but surely drenching every Madrigal in blood.