Visions (6)

She was six when she first witnessed Tio Bruno having an involuntary vision. It had been explained to her long before her own gift ceremony that his gift was that he could see visions of the future and sometimes these visions came to him without a warning so if she, her sister or cousin ever saw Tio Bruno's eyes go bright green they were to make sure he was safe and wait with him until his eyes returned to normal.

This explanation of course embarrassed her Tio to the point of him pulling his hood over his head, but her mama pulled it back and argued that she would rather him be safe than hurt. He reluctantly agreed.

The morning had started like every other morning, being greeted warmly by Abuelo, breakfast with la familia and starting on chores, which consisted of and were not limited to cleaning her room, making her bed, sweeping and watering plants.

Abuelo was gently guiding her down the hallway while she tried to balance a pile of clothes taller than her pig puffs.

Aye mi neita why not make two trips?

He sighed as she bounced into another wall half of the clothes fell onto the floor and Casita gathered them together for her.

"Abuelo, you're supposed to be helping me." She whined as she piled them back onto her tower.

I am, he defended lightly, but you took a left not a right. It would be easier to just make two trips.

"If I can get this done before lunchtime I can ask Tio Bruno for a story. " She explained as she tried to navigate to the back of the house.

Left nieta, no, your other left.

She ducked just in time and only managed to lose one sock and grinned.

"See we make a good team?"

He chuckled, You really like his stories don't you?

"Yup" she stated proudly, "he does voices and everything. Papa tries but it isn't the same and mama only wants to read her weird romance novellas."

She wrinkled her nose at the thought.

Another chuckle. One day you won't think those books are so bad.

"They don't even have pictures and make her cry. Why would she read books that make her cry, Abuelo?"

One day you'll understand.

"I don't think I want to," she said with finality.

We'll see about that.

She had made her way back through the main part of the house and called out for her Tio.

No answer.

She frowned.

He normally answered her.

"Abuelo?"

Hmm… she could feel her Abuelo frown slightly as if in thought. He's having a vision in the kitchen, he can't see or hear you, but, he noted softly, I bet he would appreciate some of your Tia's arepas and some water after.

She nodded and dutifully got a few arepas from the counter.

"Casita, a little help?" she asked softly as she tried to reach for the cabinet.

Casita moved the floor up a bit and then lowered the cabinet so she could get a plate and a glass.

Dutifully she filled the glass with water and piled a few arepas on the plate and walked over to sit next to her Tio who was still in a trance. She had just grabbed an arepa and went to take a bite when he moved.

Several things happened in a matter of moments, he jumped back with a small gasp at her and she jumped back letting go of the food as well as the glass. With a quickness she didn't know he had, he dove for the glass and grabbed it before it could land on the tiles and the arepa landed in his other hand.

"Lo siento Tio.'' she apologized immediately as he handed her the arepa.

"I'm sorry for startling you. Have you been here long?"

"Just a few minutes. Abuelo said you were having a vision and might want some water and a few arepas."

He nodded. "Gracias."

They sat in companionable silence for a moment and she turned to him.

"Tio?"

"Hmm?"

"What was your vision about?"

The man in question rubbed his arm and looked around nervously for a moment, "Well uh… "

"Was it bad, tio?"

He didn't meet her eyes but nodded.

"Want me to go with you when you tell Abuela?"

"Perdon? "He blinked at her as if she had told him the sky was purple.

"Isn't that what you do when it's bad news that can affect the village?"

"I do." He confirmed with a nod and rubbed his arm again, "but I don't think it's a good idea. "

"If someone is in need we're supposed to help aren't we, Tio?" she took another bite of her arepa and chewed, " I want to help. "

"I know you do Lena, but sometimes we can't always help."

Now it was her turn to look at him funny.

"What do you mean?"

He hesitated for a moment and then sighed heavily. "Nothing mi sobrina. It's just best if I go alone."

She frowned as he stood up shakily and headed for the door.

The tiles around him rattled in protest.

"Casita.. " He warned lightly and tried to open the door.

The windowsills creaked back at him.

He mumbled something under his breath about stubbornness being a trait of all the women in the family.

The tiles rattled back a response.

"Casita, por favor." He tried the door again and it didn't move.

Lena tried not to giggle, and caught her Tio looking back at her and did a quick cough to cover it and took a sip of water. He narrowed his eyes at her in mock suspicion but turned back to the door.

"You will be the death of me one day." he sighed, resigned, and threw up his arms," Fine. Will you let me out if I take her with me?"

The windowsills creaked an agreement.

"Yay!" she slid off the chair and before she could make a move to walk towards him the tiles carried her over.

She smiled brightly and he shook his head slightly, "Happy now, both of you?"

The tiles rattled a response.

"Si."

Lena noticed the small smile spread across his face as she slid her hand into his.

"Abuelo said she's by the church talking to the Padre." she stated helpfully, " we can take the path around the village."

She steered him gently on the outskirts of the village and towards the church.

The whispers started to get louder but she was determined to ignore them this time, it had been several months since she dared to go near the church.

Where is my mama?

Why am I here?

What's going on?

She shook her head slightly which earned her a look from her Tio but she ignored it and let go of his hand once she saw Abuela standing there talking to Padre.

"Abuela! "

She ran towards her with open arms.

"Lena, mi nieta, " Abuela greeted warmly and bent down slightly to return the hug. "What on earth are you doing here?"

Can anyone hear me?

Where are my children?

Where am I?

"Tio Bruno had a vision and I wanted to come with him to see you." She explained, focusing more than she should have on her response.

"Did he?" Abuela asked and rose back to her full height , giving Lena an absent pat on the head.

Tio Bruno seemed to shrink slightly under the sudden attention and rubbed his arm nervously. "Lo siento mama, her and casita were quite persistent."

"I see." Abuela's eyes went to her and she asked, "Lena, would you go inside to help Padre set up for tomorrow's mass?"

She glanced at the doors of the church and shivered suddenly despite the warm sun on her face.

Why am I here?

What's going on?

Where's my son?

Where's my daughter?

Help me!

The voices grew louder and louder and began to overlap each other. She heard someone call her name in the distance but it was too much all at once and she slammed her hands against her head in a vain attempt to block out the noise and backed away from Abuela and church. A wave of guilt washed over her, she had never disobeyed any adult like this before, but -

Help me.

Don't leave me here.

Come back!

Where is my family? Why did they leave me?

She backed away further and bumped into something soft and turned to see blurred green in front of her. She buried herself into the comfort of Tio's rauna, he wrapped his arms around her protectively as she whimpered into the soft fabric.

She tried to explain that it was too loud, too many voices but she couldn't get it out fully in between sobs.

She felt him rub her back and whispered soothing words to her that were too muffled to make out with her hands over her ears.

She could feel the vibration of him talking to someone, Abuela she assumed but the voices from the church kept her from trying to hear what they were saying.