Mirabel walked up the stairs. Bruno smiled, seeing his Miraposa walk up those stairs, the stairs to receive her Gift. He wondered what it could be. As he thought about the possibilities, he stopped, realizing that it could be anything. He gave up trying to think of what it could be. Instead, he just watched Mirabel as she touched the candle, agreeing to what his Mama said.

He hated the oath. They had to help Encanto with whatever gift they received. His Mama was too strict. They never got any rest. Only he has since the townspeople think he's cursed, with his Gift. The Gift to see the future. His hermanas never had that problem, except for Pepa. She had to keep her emotions under control or she could send out a hurricane on Encanto. Then they would be angry with her too.

His thoughts broke as he saw Mirabel reach for the door handle. She paused. Then, she touched the handle. The door began to glow, getting brighter and brighter until it dimmed. He had never seen this happen before. What could it mean? The door stopped glowing completely and faded. Starting from the top and to the bottom. The door completely vanished and the townspeople gasped and started whispering amongst themselves.

The first time someone hadn't received their Gift. It couldn't be. Everyone in the Madrigal family received Gifts, except for those who marry into the family. She should have received her Gift. Was something wrong? Why didn't she get one? His little Miraposa.

Bruno grew worried. Why did this happen? Wasn't she ready to receive a Gift? Wasn't she supposed to receive one? Bruno saw his Mama become worried too. She looked at the candle. She then looked back up to the townspeople, who were still whispering. "I'm sorry, everyone. The ceremony is off. Please return home." His Mama's voice was stern but Bruno could hear a hint of worry in her tone. She had also worried why Mirabel didn't get her Gift, but she didn't let it show.

His Mama had been hard on him ever since the people of Encanto seen bad in his Gift. They believed that whatever he said, would happen. That it was inevitable. That there was nothing to do to stop whatever he said. Since then, his Mama had been hard on him, trying to keep him inside and away from the people of Encanto. Pepa would get the same treatment if her emotions went out of control. Sometimes, even Pepa was hard on him. She had once blamed him for losing someone she liked. She forgave him, of course, but he still remembers sometimes what a burden he is for his familia.

If his Mama was hard on him, there's no telling what she would do to Mirabel. She might be harsh and cruel. She might not even talk to her, or look at her. She might not be treated like family. He couldn't let that happen to his Mirabel.

Just as he was about to talk to Mirabel, he was stopped. He turned to see his Mama. "Bruno, we need to talk. Come this way." Her voice was a little shaky but she tried to keep it under control. She didn't want Bruno to find out how nervous and scared she was.

Bruno entered her room after his Mama. "What is it, Mama?" Bruno asked. She needed him, and him only. Not even his hermana. She didn't want Mirabel's Papa either. Whatever it was, she just needed him. "What's wrong?"

His Mama put the candle back on the windowsill it's always sitting on. The small flame flickered. "Bruno. What happened?" his Mama asked. "Mirabel didn't get her Gift. Mirabel's door vanished. The light flickered." Her voice began shaking the more she talked. "If Mirabel didn't get a Gift, there has to be a reason behind it. Tell me, Bruno. Can you see what happened?"

"Mama, Mirabel probably didn't get a Gift for a reason," Bruno tried. "It was the Miracle's decision to give her one or not."

"Yes, I understand that, Bruno," His Mama remarked sternly. "I'm asking you to see into the future. I'm worried about the Miracle. It's going out. Once it's out, we'll have nothing left. No Encanto, no home, nothing." She turned around and put her closed hands on the windowsill. "Bruno, look into the future and see what happens. Will our Miracle live? Is it just Mirabel who didn't get a Gift?"

Bruno didn't answer right away. Bruno knew what Mama was asking. He just wasn't sure if he could do it, if he even wanted to do it. Sure, the Miracle could go out, but then he wouldn't have to worry about people picking on him and Pepa. They might not have a house but they can rebuild a new town with no magic. "Mama, I-"

"Before you refuse, Bruno, think of the family. Think of what would happen if they didn't have a home. Think how long it would take to rebuild, or find somewhere else to live. Bruno, I'm asking you this once to see into the future."

He couldn't refuse his Mama. He wanted to but even if he did, she would get mad at him. He didn't want her to start yelling at him like she used to do when he was younger. He would run away to his room and cry himself to sleep. He didn't want another one of those. He couldn't refuse. "Mama, I don't think I can. I already had one today and-"

"Bruno. Stop thinking about yourself." Those words hit hard. He wasn't thinking about himself. He just didn't want to see something he didn't want to see. What if something bad happened? He didn't want to know it. He wanted to live out the future like everyone else, when it comes. He didn't want to know before hand. He's tried many ways before to stop what he'd see in his visions. None of them worked. It seemed as though once he had one, nothing he can do would stop them from happening. Everything that went wrong, usually his Mama would blame him for them.

"Mama, I. I don't want to. What if I see something horrible and you blame me for it? What if I do see the Miracle go out?"

"Stop thinking about yourself!" she yelled. She turned and pointed at him. "This isn't about you so do what you're supposed to, Pedro!"

They both stopped. Bruno frowned. His Mama stood, stunned. "Mama, I-"

"Bruno, I'm sorry," his Mama said softly. "I wasn't trying to..." She stopped and Bruno's sad expression. "Just, please, do what you're told." She turned around again to face at the candle.

Bruno turned. His Mama was set on him seeing into the future. He had to do what he was told. It was his way of helping. But, he wasn't sure if he could. His visions wore him out. Plus, they usually came with nightmares of what'll happen. But, to call him by his Papa's name. Was she thinking of him? Is it because the Miracle came after his death?

Bruno climbed the stairs, exhausted by the time he reached the top. He caught his breath and opened the door. He sighed as he sat down, crossed legged on the sand. Why does he have to be a burden? Why did Mirabel not get a Gift? It's not that it bothered him, it's just that, he was worried for her. His Mama will probably be harsh with her and very strict and she won't give her a break.

Bruno closed his eyes and sighed. His Mama needed a visions, so he had to give her one. Sand began to spin around Bruno as his eyes opened, this time, glowing green. He worried at what he might see in his vision. If it was bad, there was nothing he could do to stop it. His Mama wanted a vision and she wouldn't stop until he got one.

He looked up at the swirling sand in front of him. He saw Mirabel climbing the stairs again. She touched the candle and the door vanished. Bruno saw the candle flicker, just as his Mama said. He saw an older figure of Mirabel, standing outside of Casita. Where she was standing, Casita's walls cracked and the candle went out. Before he stopped it, Casita's walls repaired themselves and the flame reignited.

The sand formed a green glass, which floated to him. He blocked himself with the glass as the sand fell onto him. He was tired, just as he warned his Mama, but he looked at the glowing glass anyways. On it, was Mirabel with a broken Casita behind her. He moved it a little and the walls repaired.

"The future isn't set. Mirabel can either tear this family apart or keep it together," Bruno said to himself as he examined the glass once more. His Mama would be angry with him but, she wants to know. He brought the green glass with him as he went to face his Mama. She won't be happy but he can't just leave her.

Bruno walked in to see his Mama glancing out the window thoughtfully. "Mama?" he asked. He didn't want to interrupt anything. Alma turned around. "Bruno, what did you see?" she asked, shoving a locket back into her pocket. Bruno knew what the locket was. It was one of the only pictures of his Papa, which she kept with her at all times. She never went anywhere without it. She said that the locket makes it feel like he's there with her.

Bruno held up the glass from his vision. He handed it to his Mama, who accepted it. "Mama, the future isn't set. Mirabel could either-"

"I knew it," Alma muttered. "This is what happens when we don't receive our Gifts. All sorts of bad things happen. Because Mirabel didn't get her Gift, the Madrigals are going to fall apart."

"Mama, that's not-" Bruno tried.

"But why didn't Mirabel get her Gift? Why is the magic fading? Why, Bruno?"

"Mama, it's not Mirabel's fault that she didn't get a Gift. The Miracle chose not to give her one and if you'd listen to me-"

"Listen to you?" his Mama asked. She just wasn't listening. "What is so different than what is already bound to happen? It's already set in stone , since you saw it. Mirabel didn't get her Gift, the Miracle is fading, and you vision says that Mirabel will make this family fall apart. Why do I need to listen? There's nothing more to it!"

Bruno hated when Mama did this. She never listens to him. She mostly listened to Julieta, but only because her Gift wasn't a problem. Her Gift was easy. She could heal injuries with her food. Pepa's emotions can control the weather. Mama made her keep her emotions under control. She made sure she didn't cry, or get mad, or get to happy. Because of that, she would come to Bruno and Julieta every night and tell her how she felt. His Mama was too strict. When she put her mind to something, she never let go. She believed that Mirabel was the reason the Madrigals was going to fall apart, why they were going to loose the Miracle. She believed that there was no other way to it.

Bruno knew the truth. The future isn't set in stone. It isn't sure which path it will take. Mirabel will help this family. He couldn't believe that she'll break it. He just couldn't believe it. A kind-hearted kid like her, full of curiosity and one of the happiest people he knows, can't break this family. He knew it wasn't so. Maybe his vision meant that it will break and she will put it back together. But, that's not what it showed. He hoped it would be that, only to make himself feel better.

"Mama, just listen to me," Bruno tried again. He had to make his mama understand that she was pushing the family too hard. That she was being to hard on Mirabel. "Mama, it wasn't set. It seemed as if it wasn't sure what was going to happen." He tilted the glass in his Mama's hand to reveal the fixed home with Mirabel standing in front. "Maybe Mirabel won't break this family. Maybe she'll fix it."

"Bruno," Alma said, twisting the glass back to the broken house. "This vision is the reason why Mirabel didn't get a Gift. If she's meant to break this family, then she won't receive a Gift. The Miracle knew that and allowed it so she wouldn't receive one. Don't you see, Bruno? The magic is fading because Mirabel can't help this family."

Bruno clenched his fists. His Mama never listened to him. He was trying to tell her that the future was unwritten. The future wasn't set. But she wouldn't listen. She never listens to him. She thinks his Gift is a curse too. That's why when things went wrong, she always went to blaming him. Everything was eventually brought back to him. He was blamed for everything. His Mama never understood what pain he felt. She never understood and it seems like she WON'T understand. He bottles up his pain and hurt, just to follow his Mama's orders. His hermanas did too. They would always have long discussions at night when Mama went to bed about how they felt unwanted, how they felt like a burden. But no one understood it as much as Bruno. No one felt more like a burden than Bruno.

Now she's taking it out on him and Mirabel. It wasn't Mirabel's fault that she didn't get her Gift. It wasn't Mirabel's fault the candle flickered. It wasn't Mirabel's fault! It wasn't even his fault what he saw in his vision. It never was! He couldn't handle the pain and hurt anymore. He always kept it to himself. Ever since him and his hermanas grew apart, he's always kept his pain to himself. He's been suffering and the only people who at least cared were his hermanas. Pepa and Julieta were the only ones who even noticed he was in pain. They always asked him if he was okay. He just shrugged them off. Told them he was, even though, inside, he was screaming for help. Screaming to get away.

Now he knew why. It was his Mama. His Mama never took him for who he was. He was always the first to get blamed for everything. His Mama always found a way to see the negative in his visions, and him. If his Papa were still here...

"That's it!" Bruno yelled, letting all the steam go. He had built it up for a long time and it was time to let it go. "I'm tired of this, Mama! I'm tired of you blaming me! You always said that whatever went wrong, it was my fault, my visions! Now you're taking it out on Mirabel! She did nothing wrong and you think that just because the future seems to be in peril for us, then it's Mirabel's fault! Well, it isn't! I had always did what you wanted! You had always blamed me! I would cry myself to sleep every night! And now, just because the candle flickered, just because Mirabel didn't get a Gift, it's her fault! This is no one's fault, Mama! How long will it take you to see that? How long will it take you to see that you're pushing us all too hard! Camilo had only just gotten his Gift a few months ago and you make him work, just like the rest of us! I'm tired of this! I'm leaving!"

Alma stood there, anger building up inside of her. "If you leave this house, you're dead to me," she said, almost emotionless.

"Maybe this is why Papa left," Bruno muttered storming out. He walked past Agustin and Felix. They had always been kind to him. They understood what it felt like to not be helpful, since the have no Gifts. They seemed to be sad, like if they heard what happened in there. Bruno didn't care, he just wanted to get out of there.

Bruno knew a little secret about Casita. He found a large hole behind one of the pictures, next to Dolores' room. So he sneaked in there. His Mama never understood what I was like to be a part of the family who works all day and night to help Encanto. She always stayed inside doing who knows what, and when they came back, they didn't even get so much as a 'welcome home.' For as long as Bruno could remember, his Mama has been pushing them too hard, sometimes past their limits. She never helped outside.

Bruno sat on the floor in the small chunk of empty space he found inside. The only thing he had put in there was a toothbrush, and a hairbrush, which the rats used. It was hard for him to clean the toothbrush and hard to get the rat fur out of the hairbrush. There was also a small table. Bruno sank his head into his knees. His Mama has never understood what it feels like to be him. He would have constant nightmares about the things he saw in his visions. He would cry himself to sleep.

He always felt like his Mama never really loved him. He knows that wasn't true, but it was hard to believe that. His Mama was the hardest on him.

Tears streamed down Bruno's cheeks as he thought back to what he said. 'Maybe this is why Papa left.' He didn't mean it. He was just mad. He was angry with his Mama. She blames him and now she's doing it to Mirabel. His sweet little Miraposa. Miraposa was one of the happiest people he ever met and now she's probably crying in her room. All because he couldn't go in there to help her. But then, she does have his hermana. And her Papa. But he still wanted to be there for her.

Bruno wished he could take back what he said. Bruno wished with all his heart. But, it wouldn't happen. His Mama is probably too mad to talk to right now. Why did he say he was leaving? Why did he say that? He never wanted to miss his family grow up. He never wanted to miss hanging out with Miraposa. Camilo would pull on his hair but, he wouldn't miss it either. But now, he has to leave.

His Mama expected him to. He said he was going to. Plus, he can't go back out there for what he said. 'Maybe this is why Papa left.' He didn't mean it! Not a word! He just wished his Mama would understand him. He wished that she could see through his eyes, understand what he is going through.

Now he has to leave. But what if he doesn't have to? What if he can just stay in his little hideout? What if he can still be here but not? His Mama won't want to see him again, but, the rest of his family would.

"Mama, where's Brunito?" he heard Pepa ask outside.

"Bruno, he's gone. He left this house. He left this family." His Mama sounded grave. She sounded like if she could talk to him, she would yell at him. He never liked it when she did. It always scared him. "Bruno...left?" Pepa asked, her voice shaking.

"Yes. He said he will leave."

"Mama, how-why did you let him leave without saying goodbye? We'll never see him again!"

"He said he would leave on his own will. He wanted to leave so I let him."

"Mama, how could you? How could you let him leave us?" Bruno heard a thunder from outside the walls. "Pepa, stop thundering. You're going to thunder on Encanto."

"No, Mama!" Pepa said. "I will not stop thundering! You know why? Because you let Bruno go and he didn't even get to say goodbye! He didn't even get to see Mirabel one last time! You know how much he loves this family and you let him run away! We'll probably never see him again!"

"Pepa, you will stop thundering this instant!" Alma said, sternly. She stomped her foot as she did, or so Bruno assumed.

"Mama, how could you do this?" Pepa asked, tears filing her voice. "You always were the hardest on Bruno and you didn't even apologize as he left?"

"Pepa!" Alma yelled. "Stop thundering this instant! You know better!"

Bruno heard his hermana growl as she stomped away. Bruno wish he could go back in time and change the past. He wanted to apologize to his Mama but, she left him. He had a feeling that she wouldn't forgive him. Not for a long time. Maybe he'll stay here in the walls, so he could be with his family. Pepa is right, he loves this family but, he doesn't want to leave.

"I'm sorry, Mama. I'm sorry, Mirabel. I'm sorry, everyone," Bruno muttered as his Mama walked away. Bruno wished he could have a different Gift. Maybe none of this would've happened if he couldn't see in the future. Maybe, then, they could be a family.