I'm not quite sure how long I've been dead. Long enough to break my skeleton, multiple times in fact. At least there is duct tape to keep it together. Long enough that De La Cruz became popular, even down here. Long enough that the longer I spend down here, the more I miss Imelda.

Imelda. How long would I have to stay down here before I can see you again? How many years has it been? My heart aches each night I stay here without you, Imelda.

I sighed. I can't just grieve. It's happy down here. There are always people to greet you, except for the ones who tease you for dying of food poisoning. At least there are some people down here I can trust. Plus, they like it when I play my guitar for them. I don't sing anymore but they don't mind.

Except, today is different. I'm not playing for anyone, just Imelda. It's not like she can hear me, but, I do it for her. She's the only reason I sing. Her and my daughter Coco. The songs I made, were just for them. I decided it would be nice to go out with my best friend, Ernesto, to sing the songs to the world. I got homesick, so I decided to go home, but...on the way back to the train, I died from food poisoning. I never got to return home to see Coco. To see Imelda.

Just as I was playing Imelda's favorite song, something inside me felt...different. I stopped playing my guitar. It was in my chest, like...like my heart was still beating. Except...it shouldn't be. I put my guitar on my back and placed my hand on my chest. It felt warm.

I've heard stories of this. They say when someone dies, they can tell when their loved ones join the dead. They say it feels like you heart is beating and when you touch it...it's warm. When you get close to your loved one, it beats faster, until you make eye contact, then it stops.

Who's here? It can't be Coco. So it has to be Imelda. But...there's only one way to find out.

I began to walk towards the dock, where the new ones enter. They either come in on boat, or they just teleport. Either way, it's still at the dock. I stop at the beginning, under the arch. Am I ready to see who it is? Am I ready to see who joined me?

Come on, Hector! They're family! What can go so wrong? I took a deep breath, stood up straight and walked onto the dock. The beating became faster, but it never stopped. I haven't found her yet. She has to be here somewhere. Imelda. I'll find you.

I stood, waiting. What if she's mad at me, for not coming home. She would understand if I tell her what happened, right? If I tell her that I died, and how I died, she would understand, right? Of course she would! She's my wife! She'll understand!

I examined the dock, watching as the new arrivals exited the boat. Some teleported in flower petals. No one looked like anyone I know, but I welcomed the ones who passed. I began to fiddle with my fingers. She has to be here. Unless the stories weren't true. Unless they were just making things up, to make themselves feel better. I touched my chest again. No. It has to be true. Skeletons don't just randomly get warm.

I continue to watch and fiddled with my fingers. She has to be here. I started looking over the crowd. The crowd became so big, it was hard to see anything. I took my hat off. Come on, Imelda. I know you're here somewhere.

I stood for a little while longer before I put my hat back on. I can't stay here all day. I began to return to the city before I noticed someone trip. I ran up to them and caught them before they fell. "Hey, you alright?" I checked.

"Si, I'm fine, thank you-" She paused as she stood. The beating stopped, just like they said they would. "Imelda?" I asked.

"Hector?" she returned.

"Imelda!" She still looks as guapa as ever. I reached out for a hug but she backed away. "Imelda! I missed you!"

"Hector! How dare you leave!" she cried.

"Imelda, listen-"

"Listen to what, Hector?" she yelled. "What is there to listen to? You left and that's what matters! You never came back!"

"Imelda-"

"Don't Imelda me!" She stood up and turned her back towards me. "Imelda, please!" I tried. She didn't answer so I took the chance. "Imelda. I wasn't trying to leave you. I wanted to come back but-"

"But what, Hector?" she asked, turning around with her arms crossed. "Whatever excuse you have planned, you can't turn back the clock!"

"I know, Imelda. I wanted to come back, but...I couldn't. I wasn't strong enough. I...died, Imelda."

"You died, hm? From what? Joy? Excitement? Tell me, Hector! What did you die from?"

"Imelda, I..." I stopped. Imelda is really mad at me. I...I didn't know this would make her so mad. "Imelda. I'm sorry. I know I can't return time and come back but...I thought you should know the truth. If I known this would've made you so mad I...I never would've left."

"You shouldn't have left to begin with! You left me alone! To raise Coco by myself! Because of you, I banned all music!"

"Imelda, you can't just-"

"I never let Coco listen to any music, never let her play any music, never even let her touch an instrument! Every piece of music reminded me of you!" My heart did a somersault. Music reminded her of me! But because I didn't come back, she locked it out her her life. "Imelda-"

"I waited for you to come back, Hector! I waited and waited but, you never came back! You left me all alone with Coco! I waited for you, even to the point of my death! But you never came back, Hector!"

"Imelda, look. I'm sorry. On my way back to the train home, I died from food poisoning from a chorizo. Imelda, please. I was trying to come back but..." I paused. "I have no excuse for that, I know, but...can you at least forgive me?"

"Forgive you?" Imelda asked. "How can I forgive you? I had waited so long for you! I had put my hopes up that you would come back! But you didn't! I can't forgive you! Not after so long!"

Imelda began to walk away. "Imelda, please!" I reached for her. "Goodbye, Hector." She continued to walk until she was out of sight. That's why I was never on the ofrenda. Imelda waited but I never came back. She had lost all hope and left me out of her and Coco's life. Imelda...I'm sorry.

I fell to my knees. Imelda. I'll never see you again. Not like this. Imelda...please come back to me. I'm sorry.

After Miguel left for the Land of the Living, I could feel myself fading. Coco...she was forgetting me. "Hector...I'll stay right here for you. Please...don't leave again." I smiled at those words. Imelda wants me to stay. "Don't worry, Imelda." I put my hand on her cheek. "I'll...always be with you...I won't leave you. Not again..."

Imelda leaned closer to me. "Hector...I'm sorry. I'm sorry that...that I couldn't forgive you. It's just that...I couldn't imagine ever seeing you again. You were gone for so long that I...I wasn't sure what do when you'd come back. I wanted you to know that..." Her voice began to fade out so I didn't quite get what she said. I lowered my arm but she didn't let go of my hand. This is is...the Final Death...

I came to and saw Imelda, staring down at me. "Imelda...am I...still alive?" She smiled. "If you count that you're still a skeleton alive, then si. You're alive, Hector."

I smiled and sat up. I hugged Imelda, who seemed startled. Eventually, she hugged me back. "Imelda, I thought I was never going to see you again."

"I could say the same for you."

I sniffled and held back tears. "Imelda, I'm so happy to see you. I can give you a thousand apologizes and they would never be enough to tell you how sorry I am. I-"

"Hector. It's okay," Imelda said. "I forgive you."

We broke out of the hug. That's when I remembered about my picture. "But...what about my picture? I gave it to Miguel to put on the ofrenda."

"Don't worry about it, Hector," Imelda said, rather calmly. "Coco has the rest of out family photo."

"You mean to say you ripped my head off the picture?" I asked.

"Well..."

I smiled. "Imelda. What did you say to me earlier? You said you wanted me to know something?" Imelda smiled, for the first time since she's arrived. I've missed that smile. "I wanted you to know that...I love you, Hector."

I smiled and tears filled in my eyes. "Same to you, Imelda. Same to you."

Author's Note

Did anyone notice that Hector got shoes at the end of the film? Anyway, I kinda wanted a way for Hector to know that Imelda came to the Land of the Dead somehow. I also wanted a little story on their relationship and how it changed, which I assumed happened while Miguel sang to Coco. I was hoping for a short film, but it never happened. :( Anyway, I hope this covers things! Thanks for reading and supporting!