TW: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The cool night air was a real treat as Nora left the Casita Madrigal. Most of the people from the village were still inside, celebrating with the family. Just a few had left by then, she saw them walking down the main road back to their homes. Everything about this village appeared so peaceful. A wistful look clouded her eyes for a moment as she saw a group of young children in about Antonio's age merrily run around, dancing around their parents. After a moment she shook her head, clearing her mind again and made her way down the road.
The moon stood high in the sky as she wandered around the village, taking in its nighttime beauty. Everything was so quiet. She doubted this place had a hotel or guesthouse like she was used to find in big cities. This valley was so far off from the hustle and bustle she was used to in the past years. For the first time in many years she truly felt safe.
"Can I help you?"
She winced and turned to look at the man that had just spoken.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. You just looked lost."
She smiled reassuringly. "No, I'm fine, thanks. Just seeking some peace and quiet."
"You came to the right place then. I saw you at the gift ceremony and thought your face looks unfamiliar. You're new in the village, I guess?"
"Just washed up this morning." She said. "Quite literally." She added at his puzzled look. "I had an accident on the river and I was found by members of the Madrigal family. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ramble. I'm still processing a lot of things that happened lately."
"No need to apologize. We all have our baggage to carry. But I can assure you, you washed up at the right place. We don't have a hotel, unfortunately, because hardly anyone knows we exist in this valley. But we're a tight community. If anyone needs help, we're there. So, in case you are in need of a place to stay just say the word and we'll have a house ready for you in no time. Oh, my name is Arturo Rivera."
"Nora Moreno. And thank you, so very much. I'll surely take you up on it. I should talk to the Madrigals first though."
"That's fine, I'm sure you'll figure something out. Have a good night and again, welcome to Encanto." He waved at her as he walked away.
Wrapping her arms around herself she kept on moving, further down the road that soon led out of town. She walked for almost twenty more minutes until she reached the place where she had washed up earlier that day. The Rainbow River shimmered lightly from the moonlight reflecting on its smooth surface. She sat down by the riverbank, fingertips gliding through the fresh water.
Just a week ago she had left her home that never truly felt like home despite living in it for almost six years. It took her six years and one specific day last week to finally break free.
It was the middle of the night. She had waited for Hector to fall asleep. The only predictable trait of her husband was that once he slept it was difficult to wake him. Much to her advantage, as she had prepared a little bag of clothes and everything else she needed to start a new life somewhere far, far away from this monster of a man. She remembered how sweet and caring he was at the beginning of their relationship. She had been 26 when they met, 27 when they married. It was a lovely wedding, a big wedding in Hector's manor just outside of the capital Bogotá. About a year into the marriage he began to change. Or maybe…maybe he began to show his true face. It began with nitpicking almost everything she did, sometimes even about herself. The way she dressed wasn't good enough for him. The way she did her hair was too wild for him. He was insanely jealous. With time he managed to drive away almost all close friends she had.
Then, one day, after a heated argument about the future of their little family it happened the first time. A slap. Out of nowhere. Just because she told him she was not ready for children just yet. When she added she wasn't sure if she ever wanted children at all there was a sudden fury in his eyes. And then his hand came forward, connecting with her cheek. It felt like a bomb exploded in her head, her skin burning and turning red.
"Why did you do that?" She cried, rubbing her cheek.
"You dare tell me you don't want my children? You dare tell me my family name will die with me?" He hissed, taking a step towards her. She instinctively took a step back.
"You know I love my freedom. You promised we'd travel and experience everything this life has to offer. Children aren't in the picture. Maybe someday. But maybe not. I don't know!"
He grabbed her arm, his fingers digging into her flesh. She cried out and wriggled out of his grip.
"I will have children, Nora. With…or without you." He brushed past her, his shoulder checking hers so hard she stumbled backwards onto the ground. Yet, he didn't even look at her anymore.
She sighed and lowered down onto her back, staring up into the night sky. The stars twinkling bright in this part of the country so far away from any light pollution. The anxiety that took hold of her earlier during the celebration ebbed away. She had managed to escape this hellhole of a marriage.
The night she disappeared she left the manor on the back of her horse. She had just kept on riding through the countryside. Further and further north. She luckily found shelter in guesthouses and once those became scarce she seeked help on farms. Lots of them let her stay if she agreed to help cook breakfast in the morning or clean the stables. One of the stable hands mentioned to her one of his cousins was captain of a cargo vessel heading north and across the sea. He gave her the name and address of that cousin. She decided to leave her horse on the farm, since she knew these people would treat her horse well.
A day later she embarked on the vessel. She wasn't the only passenger seeking passage to the countries past the sea. This was not a cruise ship and accommodation was very basic but anything was better than risking being found by Hector. She wondered if he even seeked for her. Then, the storm hit last night. Just as the vessel was crossing the tributary the waves became so strong the vessel smashed against a rock, ripping a huge hole into its side. People fell into the water, cargo smashing down into the stormy river. Nora tried holding on to the railing but a wooden box filled with fruit knocked into her and she fell into the river. She tried to swim yet there was hardly any land near enough to actually make it in that weather. Her head was throbbing, her whole body became heavier. A scream escaped her as the current suddenly took hold of her, carrying her further away. She didn't know how far the river had taken her, nor where it had taken her as she had passed out, the river carrying her unconscious body. And then she woke up inside of the Madrigal casita.
Suddenly Nora sat up straight. Did she really just leave an upset teenager alone who was determined to find out more about herself, her vision? Nora scrambled to her feet and ran back the way she came from, through the village towards the casita which by now lay quiet as the festivities had ended and the family had retreated to their rooms. She burst into the courtyard and looked up to the nursery's door. She hurried upstairs and into the room, expecting to find it empty, but no. Mirabel truly was asleep. A relieved breath escaped Nora as she closed the door again, sitting down next to it. Catching her breath again she looked left and right along the row of doors. Great, she really didn't find a proper place to sleep.
She remembered there was a bench in the kitchen though so she went downstairs again and made herself comfortable. It only took a few minutes and she was deeply asleep.
And thus marked the day her new life would truly begin.
