Antonio made his promise, touched his door and received his gift. Just as Alma remembered, with the exception of the anxious parents clinging to each other and Mirabel's nervous fidgeting.
It was palpable, watching the relief sweep through the crowd and family as her nieto's image appeared on his door and animals from across the Encanto barged into the house to greet him.
Alma stood by Mira the whole time, carefully watching her to see what else she missed. Because between now and sometime during the party…this is when the cracks had appeared without her knowing…
Now that she knew her granddaughter was at the center of things, she didn't want to miss a single hint as to what might be going on. She had already missed enough.
People ascended the stairs, pressing forward to see the new room. "IT'S BIGGER ON THE INSIDE?!"
Yet Mirabel stayed back away from the center of attention, even as Pepa and Félix moved to hug Antonio, once the jaguar brought him back.
Was it a coincidence that Mirabel knew just what to get him for his birthday?
Her mariposita stayed hidden in the crowd, watching 'past' Alma kneel down in front of Antonio. "I knew you could do it. A gift just as special as you." Why wasn't she in there with the rest of la familia? "We need a photo!" She raised her voice above the others, calling for a camera.
The entire family gathered around 'past' her to pose for the picture. Finally, Mira started forward to join them.
"Ready?" Were they not going to wait? Mirabel wasn't there yet…
"¡La familia Madrigal!"
Mira…Mirabel wasn't in the photo?
Alma stumbled back, placing a hand on her chest, making the entire scene stop. She stared at the smiling faces of her family, each and everyone unaware that they'd left Mirabel out.
Pushed aside…forgotten…unwante-
NO! "No!" She stepped forward, reaching out to try and comfort her nieta in vain. Her hand went through Mira's shoulder causing a shudder to run up her arm.
How could she not have noticed…how had Julieta not noticed?!
…NO ONE NOTICED!?
Stepping around Alma wanted to comfort her nieta, but all she could do was stare into the girl's heartbroken eyes as she watched her family shut her out.
Time moved on along with the crowd as they all went into the new room to continue the party. The last person closed the door behind them, leaving Mirabel alone in the now deathly silent Casita.
Tears were threatening to run down both Mira and Alma's cheeks. Mirabel stood there, staring at the door. Her fingers were turning white from how hard her fists were clenched in her skirt. After a moment she drew a ragged breath, her face turning red from holding her breath in a futile attempt not to cry.
"Don't be upset." Mira mumbled to herself. "Don't be mad. Don't be sad." She clenched her eyes shut and grit her teeth. "I'm fine…I'm fine."
Alma's heart was breaking as she watched her mariposita fall apart.
How did this happen …when had they started leaving her behind? Why didn't she see…
Always busy, you never pay attention…
Mirabel let out a choked sob before turning around and fleeing toward the stairs. Alma was slow to follow, but she placed herself behind Mira. Once in the courtyard her nieta scrubbed at her eyes harshly and wrestled to get her breathing under control. Turning her eyes to the candle, her lips trembling, Mira let the miracle know of her pain.
"I know I can't move mountains…or heal people…or make flowers…" She sucked in a breath. "I tried so hard…to be seen like everyone else…I tried so hard to prove I didn't need a gift to shine…I tried!"
"Mi vida." Alma whispered hoarsely.
"I'm sick of trying…I'm tired of being alone…of being stuck in the nursery…why didn't I get a gift?!" She screamed at the candle. "Why didn't you bless me? Bless me now! Give me something, I'm ready! I've been patient…I've waited for a miracle my whole life!"
Both women were crying now. Alma felt like she couldn't breathe as she watched Mira plead with the candle.
"...am I too late?" Mira whimpered quietly. Her chin fell to her chest, hair covering her face, she hugged herself as she cried…all alone.
"Mirabel," Alma stood in front of her granddaughter, heart aching as she finally saw her pain laid open and raw before her. "I'm so sorry I've been blind."
The sound of something breaking had both looking behind Mirabel. A tile from the roof had fallen to the floor. Mira wiped her eyes as she moved to inspect the shattered pieces.
"Casita?" She asked the house quietly.
Suddenly, a single crack ran through the tiles right in front of Mirabel's feet. Gasping in alarm they both watched as more and more began forming over the walls. They traveled up and across the doors causing them to flicker. From there it crept up and onto the windowsill where the candle sat, disturbing it.
Mirabel's eyes widened when the flame flickered. Wasting no more time she took off toward the stairs to get 'past' Alma.
She remembers this part of the night…and she didn't want to relive it…not now, not after what she's learned.
Mirabel's progress stopped a few feet from her. The way the cracks had spread looked familiar, it reminded her of when-
Alma suddenly realized…the house was breaking…because Mira was breaking…
Casita only ever responded like this one other time, but she remembers the incident clearly. It had only been a week after Pedro…she had broken down into sobs…so tired after a long day in town…and Pepa wouldn't stop crying, she kept waking her siblings up…Julieta had a fever…Bruno wouldn't eat…
She'd had a breakdown…screaming and pleading with heaven and Dios, to give her Pedro back…in the midst of it she had noticed cracks running through the walls…tearing the room her and her babies were in apart.
She had grabbed them, shushing them gently as she tried to protect them from the crumbling house…and then it stopped. And after a moment the cracks were gone.
Casita was responding to Mirabel like it had first responded to her…she had an idea of what Toníto's gift was going to be like, like Alma had when the others had gotten theirs.
Was Mirabel…had the Candle…chosen her?
