Chapter 9:
(Felix POV)
We walked into my shack and Pepa was honestly scaring me. What did the letter say? I looked at the envelope and it clearly had been opened before, "Pepa did you read this?" She shook her head, "No. People in town did when you were a baby. No one knew who you were or where you belonged and were looking for some answers." I nodded my head as I sat down on the couch and began to read the note:
My precious son,
You were born into a world that I never wanted for you. A world filled with violence and sorrow and so many other terrible things I hope you never have to experience. You deserve an escape just like all the people in this village deserve an escape.
If we are ever separated I wanted you to know who I am. My name is Marina and I am 22 years old. I had you 5 months ago on November 11, my son Felix. From the moment I laid eyes on you, you were my pride and joy and I knew I needed to whatever I had to, to keep you safe. I had you in secret. My husband was always away and had no idea of your existence and will never know if I can prevent it. My husband and I were an arranged marriage of military families and he is one of the lead generals in the attack that is going to hit that village.
You were my one blessing. Together we are going to warn the people in the village a week before the attack and hope that they will leave with us and we will start over somewhere new. I want you to live a life far away from the miserable people that come from my family and your my husband's family. I want you to be happy, to be able to smile, to fall in love and everything in between. I knew that if my husband knew about you that would be impossible so I decided to lie. He had left me alone in our house staying mostly in the barracks but plans were always passing through and when I saw what was happening I knew I couldn't let that happen to them or you. I told him that you did not survive childbirth and kept you concealed from everyone for the first few months of your life.
If I am not with you now, know that I am looking for you. I love you hijo and I will do everything to give you a good life.
Mama
I looked up at Pepa and she whispered, "There looks like there is writing on the back." I flipped the envelope over and she was right I continued to read:
I will never be able to escape and I know what is going to happen to me now that I have made the decision that I have. He found out that there was a rat and changed the plans hijo. There was a choice I had to make and I hope you can forgive me. I couldn't leave that village behind. I hope they keep you safe.
I love you,
Mama
I let out a long breath, "Um, here." I gave the note to Pepa and nodded for her to read it to. I watched as she read it a storm cloud over her head. She placed it down and she gave me a hug and I held onto her. "My birthday wasn't yesterday," I said. Pepa looked up at me, "Yeah. it was November 11." I smiled at her, "I'm 5 months older than you not 4." She shoved my arm slightly before looking up at me, "Are you ok?" I nodded my head. "I mean my Papa seemed to be terrible but, my Mama was a good person. I can... I can live with that. She wanted me to be happy, why waste her sacrifice?" Pepa sighed, "You know it is ok to be upset." I nodded my head, "I know."
(Pepa POV)
I kept looking at Felix trying to gauge his reaction. That letter felt heartbreaking and I wasn't sure what to do. I wrapped him in a hug trying to be there for hiim the way he has been there for me before. We talked about his birthday in the letter but, I knew that it wasn't the only thing on his mind, "Are you ok?" He nodded his head, "I mean my Papa seemed to be terrible but, my Mama was a good person. I can..." he paused and I was trying to see his face but he had a faint smile, "I can live with that. She wanted me to be happy, why waster her sacrifice?" I sighed. "You know it is ok to be upset." His eyes were laced with tears, "I know." I wrapped him in another hug, "Pepa, I'm ok." He said again. I held onto him, "I know. This is for me." He nodded his head and we stayed like that for a moment longer before I left.
(Felix POV)
I leaned back she loved me. I wished things could have been different and I wished that she could have made it into Encanto too, but I was ok. She loved me enough to keep me away from a horrible situation. I wished that things could have been better for me here too, but I wasn't mad or upset with her.
Augustin came over later, "Hey Felix what is going on?" I smirked as I pointed to the letter, "Pepa found that. It's from my Mama." He stopped in his steps, "Your Mama?" I nodded my head and he continued to read, "She warned all our families?" I nodded my head again, "Flip it over." He did and read the back, "She sacrificed herself for all of us." I nodded my head. He read the letter over, "Huh I wonder who your Papa was?" I looked at him, "What are you talking about. He was a general who attacked your families." He looked at the letter, "She only ever refers to him as her husband not your Papa." I shrugged, "Maybe she never considered him to be my Papa?" He shrugged, "Yeah maybe."
(Pepa POV)
I wanted to do something for Felix. I didn't know what but, I wanted to do something. "Pepa?" I turned and saw Julieta, "Oh hi." She laughed, "Wow you are really out of it aren't you. You've had a cloud bubbling over your head for like 10 minutes. What is going on?" I looked up at Pepa, "I-I'm just worried about Felix." She looked at me "I though that you apologized for all of that yesterday and he forgave you." I nodded my head, "Yeah he did." She sighed sitting down next to me, "Then what is going on?" I shrugged, "Not my place to talk about it." She nodded her head, "Well did he say what he wanted?" I let out a breath, "He said that he was ok... but I don't know." She nodded her head, "Well the only thing you can do is be around if he does need you."
I sighed, "Yeah." I looked up at her, "You know I saw some guys by your stand today." She nodded her head. "Yes. None of whom actually accepted my food," she said. I laughed, "Why don't you take pity on one of them and go out on a date?" She shrugged, "The right one hasn't asked me yet. Speaking of the wrong ones how was your date with Hernando yesterday?" I rolled my eyes. I knew she hated him but the fact that I wasn't happy with him right now made him harder to defend, "It was fine. We had dinner in town." I talked with Julieta more and I felt better.
I thought about it for the rest of the night as I took the envelope out from my hiding place. I wanted Felix to see it. I opened it up took out the letter and reread Papa's words to me:
Mi Preciosa Pepa,
I have only known you for a short while but, I know that you are a wonder in your own right. You are the most vocal of the triplets and most of the time it is to bring our attention to your sister or brother. You are so caring and make sure that everyone around you knows exactly how you feel. Not to mention that you are already so gorgeous. You and Julieta are definitely going to give me a heart attack when you are older because you are already gorgeous and I can only imagine how much more beautiful you will become.
My one worry for you is that big heart of yours that you have already shown your Mama and I. Your big heart remind me a lot of someone I know and I know that if anyone is lucky enough to call you their friend both your lives will be richer for it. Be careful who you trust it with. Your life is going to be so much richer because of it but, I worry that it might one day cause you pain. I want to be there to protect you if that ever happens but in case I am not humor your Papa and listen to the words in this letter that Daniel gave you.
I am looking down at you and your siblings now as you sleep in your nursery and I can't help but imagine the amazing woman I know that you are going to become. I want to make sure that you know that you are already one of the most important things in my life and you always will be. Life is so complicated already but, I know that I am with you for every hurdle and heartache that you face, even if you can't see me. I will always be standing alongside everyone to see you shine and pick you up when you fall. I don't doubt that there are going to be many others standing alongside me as I do.
I hope you have the right people in your life who will be there for you for everything. I love you Pepa. I love your Mama, I love your brother, I love your sister and I love you.
Papa
I took a breath as I watched a few raindrops fall on the note. I leaned over it to protect it from anymore water as I tucked it into the envelope. I hoped I was making him proud and I hoped he agreed with the people I had in my life. I wished I could remember him, could have known his voice, could remember his face... I just wanted some memories of him and I was worried that Felix might feel the same way. I thought over Papa's words I think that he would have liked that Felix was my best friend. I tucked the letter away and decided that I would show it to Felix tomorrow. It felt only fair.
- 2 years later -
I couldn't believe this was happening. Why did this need to happen? How could he do this to me? Was he right? I could feel the storm brimming over my head as a quiet thunder began to rumble. This wasn't going to be good and everyone in town was here. All this would do is prove him right. I really didn't want to prove him right but I didn't know how to stop this. I was just too mad, sad and everything in between. I kept glancing up trying to contain my misery so I was the only one who felt it but I didn't know how long that was going to las.