"Ay, Pedro. I need you." Alma sighed out, heart aching as she held the locket containing one of the few pictures of her beloved husband. "Cracks? In our Casita? If our family only knew how vulnerable we truly are."
Alma didn't want to think about the stress it would put on her daughters on top of the day to day duties they already had. Julieta needed to be in town for the injured. If Pepa knew, the resulting meltdown would be dangerous for everyone. No, this was her job, her responsibility, to care for the Miracle entrusted to her and her new community.
"If our Miracle is dying…" Those words were difficult to get out of her throat. She could feel herself getting choked up at the thought. "We cannot lose our home again."
Where would her children go? What would they do? Alma knew she wouldn't be able to handle picking herself, and her children, up again if Casita were to…
"Why is this happening?" She pleaded with her husband, Dios, the Miracle. "Open my eyes. If the answer is here, help me find it. Help me protect our family." She couldn't lose anyone else, not after…
"Help me save our Miracle." Alma kissed the picture of her husband before turning around to head to bed. She turned down the blankets and carefully settled herself down for the night.
As the Madrigal matriarch fell into slumber the candle setting on her only windowsill flared. From the flame a single butterfly formed and danced on the light breeze flowing through the late night air. It lazily fluttered across the room to land on the sleeping woman's forehead leaving behind a little kiss of magic.
In that moment, though she wouldn't be aware for several hours, Alma's wish was granted. By the next morning her eyes would be opened.
The morning sun crept into the quiet little bedroom, gently waking its single occupant.
Alma's breathing increased as she roused from her rest. Eyes blinking open, she laid in bed for a moment, enjoying the peace of morning before sitting up to get ready for the day.
She knew Mirabel would knock on her door soon, signaling the start of the day. Letting out a sigh she stood from her bed and strode slowly to her wardrobe to pick out a dress.
Once out of her night clothes and into her day clothes she then sat at her vanity to fix her hair. Picking up her comb she began to put it back in its usual style, she was nearly done when something in the mirror caught her attention.
Across from her bed-directly-was both her wardrobe and her vanity, so sitting here she was able to see a…lump of something in her bed. It looked almost like someone was sleeping in her spot!
Turning around, unsure of what to expect, Alma made her way back over to her bed…and turned white as a sheet. Her trembling fingers dropped her comb, it clattered to the floor. She clutched at her chest, her heart trying to escape its cage in her fear.
Laying in her bed, peacefully, unnaturally still, was her.
Timidly, she reached out with trembling fingers to touch her own cheek. Slowly, hesitantly, she held her breath waiting for her fingers to make contact with her own corpse…because what else could explain this?
Her eyes widened and she quickly snatched her hand back, cradling it to her chest, when her fingers went through her cheek. She choked back a scream as she hysterically thought 'of course I can't touch anything if I'm a ghost'
Tears gathered in her eyes as she tried to understand why now of all times was her time to go. Now wasn't a good time, she needed to be here for her children, for her nietos, for the Encanto. She couldn't be…gone.
Gathering her wits and trying to calm down, Alma tried to think of what to do when she suddenly realized. She wasn't completely gone, because if she was shouldn't she have met Pedro? Shouldn't she be seeing the face of Dios as she ascends? Instead she is still here, in her room, in Casita.
Could she still help like this? What was the purpose of staying here?
Alma let her thoughts of why wander on as she waited for someone to find her body. It would probably be Mirabel, the poor girl, sent to get her for breakfast. She wasn't sure if she could handle the family's grief when they found her, but it seemed she didn't have a choice.
At least, she thought she didn't…
The matriarch continued to wait for someone to come…but not even her morning wake up call had come to her door. Had she…died that early in the morning? Looking out her window it seemed she had…roused from bed at her usual time.
Taking in the rest of her home, glancing down into the courtyard, Alma was puzzled to discover that the rest of the world was just as still as her own corpse lying in bed behind her. Birds were paused mid flight, the sun had made no progress in the sky, clouds hung where they were and most obviously, Mirabel had only just left her room. Her nieta was frozen, stone still, as everything else around her.
Alma blinked and reconsidered what might be going on, and dared to hope that perhaps…she'd been a little hasty in assuming she was simply dead. Finding a little courage, she decided to try and leave her room to see if there was any way to figure out what was going on.
She paused at her own door, wondering if the knob would do her any good. She couldn't even touch her own cheek. Retracting her hand from the handle she instead, tentatively, reached out and put her hand through the door itself.
It was an odd feeling of displacement, a chill seemed to settle in her arm straight down into the bone, but she brushed it off and walked through her door. There were things that needed to be done and though it might seem like it, she had a feeling she didn't have all the time in the world.
Walking down the few stairs that separated her from the first floor of the house and through her first door. Alma didn't want to get used to the chilling effect as she walked through items, it was uncomfortable and disorienting. She did her best to stay composed, though no one was around to see her shudder, and continued on.
She looked over the railing and into the courtyard trying to see if anyone else was up as she made her way down the stairs and into la cocina. No one seemed to be up yet. That was…odd. Breakfast was always punctual, so Alma had thought that Julieta would be here getting things started. Perhaps she would see one of her nietas helping to set the table or helping her daughter cook. But la cocina was empty.
Alma backed out of the room and glanced up at the doors along the second level. Were they still in bed? Probably, she realized…
Tonítos ceremony ended late last night…a little extra sleep wouldn't hurt so long as their chores get done
Then she remembered Mirabel. Her youngest granddaughter was up and well on her way to waking the rest of the house. Not that Alma would see it, she sighed, the world was still on hold and she was no closer to figuring out why.
She thought about her young nieta as she strode back up the steps. Once at the top of the stairs she could see Mira, who only made it a few steps out of her room, and felt a little guilt settle in her stomach. She had seen the cracks last night, they were finally showing up outside of the inner walls. Alma knew they were there, she could feel them through her connection to the candle, but for them to grow to such sizes…and without her knowing…or feeling…what had Casita reacted to?
Alma…should have found a better way to keep everyone from panicking, but she had to do something in order to stay in control of the situation. If it cost Mirabel a little embarrassment…she will need to learn discretion, Alma decided, that way if the problem persists then they can handle it quietly.
The matriarch walked up to Mirabel with a small smile. The girl looked so much like her mother. She's tenacious and energetic, and perhaps a little too enthusiastic at times…why…
Why didn't you get a gift? What did I do wrong? What…what did you do?
Alma was never sure if it was her, or Mirabel. Last night seemed to suggest, since Antonio was blessed, that it had something to do with the girl. And she didn't know how to handle that…
She stood only a few feet from her now, looking into the young girl's smiling face as she walked…
Wait…
Confused, Alma watched as once she was within reaching distance of Mirabel time started up again allowing the girl to move past her grandmother though only a few steps. Once she was out of reach everything stopped immediately. Sounds she didn't realize were gone had kicked up only to be snuffed out again.
Taking a step forward…Mira did the same…soon Alma's steps quickened trying to keep up with the young girl's pace as she marched determinedly toward the stairs.
Whatever was going on…must somehow be connected to Mirabel. But how? Was this her doing? No, she looked as she did every morning, ready to start her day as always. Nothing seemed out of place with her.
Then why? So many questions, but no answers…for now. At least she had discovered that being near Mirabel moves things forward. That was something, hopefully she will figure out more.
When Mirabel made it to the stairs Casita turned them into a slide allowing the girl to descend much faster than normal. It nearly gave Alma a heart attack watching her launch herself down the stairs. She said good morning to Pedro's portrait before turning the corner, freezing again at the bottom of the staircase. It was almost like time was waiting on Alma to catch up to her nieta.
Carefully making her way to the first floor, once just behind Mira, Alma found herself just…following her. She supposed this would be best for today. Maybe she'll get some answers, either way it was the only way forward.
