Silence. Deafening silence. It started to slither up my leg like a snake. Just say something already! I started to get worried. My hands were shivering as I held them together. It felt like the world was crumbling down around me. Julieta's mother stood beside me in disbelief. I didn't understand what was so confusing about my statement. They had magical gifts and so did I, there was a connection between me, this family, and the town. The smallest boy, Antonio, wasn't as shocked or afraid as some of the other family members were. He was happy and curious.
"So what's your gift?" Antonio inquired. The boy's voice sliced the tension like a knife through warm butter. He hopped off his chair and poked his head up at me, almost tumbling over as he had to look straight up. It was then I realized my dilemma. No matter what I did to show them what I could do, they'll take it the wrong way. Either I give something life at the expense of my own which will ultimately make me useless, or I take life like el diablo himself. How could this not go bad for me? Luisa and her mother both looked at me in concern. They had the same train of thought. Calling it frustrating would be an understatement.
"That would be hard to explain, sobrino. He needs plants to show it off to everyone." Julieta explained.
"That's not entirely true. It works on any living thing."
My voice was unintentionally ominous as I picked up a stray orange on the countertop next to me. It was cool and ripe against my palm. It hurt me to know that what I was about to do would either make or break my connection with them. Just like the pot plant, the color drained from the fruit. Its death fueled my body with life. I didn't take as long with fruit as I did with the plant. The orange turned to black within a few seconds and began to flake away. Delicately, I put the orange back down on the countertop and turned back to the family. Isabela looked the most horrified out of everyone. I knew it would turn out like this, being rejected for one aspect of my power when I could do so much more.
"What did you do to it?" Pepa nervously asked.
"I stole its life essence. I could turn it back to normal if that makes you feel more comfortable."
I outstretched my hand towards the dead fruit. Trails of magic flew out of my hand and back into the orange, restoring its color. Camilo, the shapeshifter, hesitantly took the fruit into his grasp and inspected it. Every inch of it went under his watchful eyes. Nervously, he peeled back the skin and revealed the ordinary insides of an orange. A barrage of gasps filled the room as Camilo placed the orange on the table for all to inspect.
"The downside is that providing my life essence drains me, physically. I can only do so much until I pass out or worse. So I have to keep myself stable by stealing other life essences."
My heart suddenly got heavier. Their eyes only grew more worriedly. Before any of them could respond, I quickly excused myself from the room, moved into the main foyer, and sat on the stairs. I pushed my knees against my chest and enveloped my arms around my legs. Dipping my head to hide my face, the not-so-subtle debate in the dining room held my attention. It escalated from a hushed conversation to yelling. Julieta's mother was the most vocal of the group and made her intentions clear to everyone that I should stay in Encanto. That made my head go up. Out of everyone in the family, I thought she would want me gone the second she saw me. A stranger in her town would hold many red flags so, I wouldn't hold it against her or anyone in the family to distrust me.
The floor in front of me suddenly sprung to life as the tiles enthusiastically popped up and down, as if it was trying to talk to me. The tiles split themselves into pieces, creating a trail for me to follow and so I did. My walk took me to the back of the house and towards a wall that glowed with such life. It was brighter than anything I had seen before. On the wall was their family tree. Julieta's mother and her late husband at the top flowed down to the grandchildren. The tree then started to slowly grow another branch, separated from the rest of the family but still connected through the magic. It didn't feel right though.
"Why are you doing this? I don't deserve to be a part of this family."
The words were small and fragile, barely a whisper. I place my palm against the display and closed my eyes. The warmth that came from the house eased my worries. It was comforting and welcoming as the essence moved through me and the wall. I couldn't take my hand off if I tried, the essence was addictive. This family's bond was so strong, unbreakable, and beautiful. It hurt to know that not too long ago that my family was the same. The sound of footsteps echoed behind me as I felt someone else enter the room. Turning around, I met Isabella's soft hazelnut eyes. They were warm like her mother's and just as comforting. We both stood there in awkward silence, for God knows how long, until…
"I never wanted this power, and I still don't."
This broke the tension. With a worried look on her face, she stepped into the room.
"Why?"
"This gift was created in the blood of my family. Every time I use it, it's a constant reminder that they're gone." Isabella solemnly nodded and stood next to me, following my eyes that lay on their family tree."I could've saved them. I could've…"
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, it's ok. I don't want to burden you and your family with my past."
Nodding without further questioning, we both kept our eyes on the display in front of us. For a few minutes, we both stood there in peaceful silence, basking in each other's presence. It was nice not to be alone for once, but I knew that I deserved none of this.
"You know, when my Abuelo sacrificed himself to save our family, we were blessed with our miracle. His death wasn't remembered as something to mourn but rather to celebrate for the second chance our family was given. The memory of him served as a reminder that loss and grief don't define someone but rather how they cope and grow as a person," Her eyes began to tear up, creating a watery barrier that reflected against the moonlight," We were broken for a long time, being constantly reminded that we needed to earn our gifts. It drove our family apart in ways we couldn't see. Even after all of that, we picked each other back up, and now…" Her hazelnut orbs connected with my eyes once again. She softly planted on my shoulder," We've become closer and happier. Whatever your decision is, we'll respect it but I hope you stay with us because maybe, we can help you too."
And with that, Isabella left the room, leaving me to my thoughts. I sank to the floor with my back against the wall.
'Why would they take me in? How could they be so trusting to an outsider?'
As the moon climbed higher in the sky, my eyes became heavier and so I left the room to find Julieta. Making my way to the kitchen, I found her and Luisa chatting away while they cleaned the dishes. Luisa was talking adamantly to her mother while they cleaned. Their movements were in sync as if they had done it a hundred times over. Not wanting to disturb their peace, I made my way out of the house and down the hill. The streets were dead and not one lantern illuminated the pathways. As I reached the town square, the unthinkable happened. A sharp stab of pain hit my stomach which forced me to the ground. My hands immediately cradled my stomach as it suddenly became harder to breathe. It took all of my willpower to push myself back up onto my two feet. I knew what this meant and my mind became afraid once again.
'I need essence. Where could I go? The forest!'
I pushed my body to its limits as a trudged into the green abyss. The air grew hotter and a bead of sweat rolled down my face as I made my way deeper until the Encanto was out of sight. Immediately, I collapsed to my knees while still holding my stomach. I stayed there for a while, letting my breaths even out until my heartbeat slowed down. With somewhat peace of mind, I let go. I let go of my worries, my anger. I stopped concentrating and allowed my mind to truly relax. Closing my eyes, the life in the trees and grass began to suck away. Despite the grim sight, it was peaceful and relaxing. The feeling of energy coursing through me without consequence sparked a fall of adrenaline within my body. It was simply…exhilarating. Despite the forest growing darker by the second, my body had never felt more alive.
