Chapter 4 Mama Coco's passing
Miguel went to get his family as requested by Mama Coco who were all in the workshop making shoes. "Miguel what's the matter?" His father Enrique asked him as everyone else wondered the same thing when they saw Miguel run into the workshop. "It's Mama Coco. She isn't feeling well and she told me she feels like her time is up. She wants to see all of us right away come on!" Miguel said as he and the rest of the family went to Mama Coco's bedroom. "Mama what's wrong? Why would you tell Miguel that your time is up?" Elena asked her mother. "Mija you and the whole family have known for a while that I haven't been feeling well. Not to mention I'm very old. Sometimes in my dreams I hear mi mama and papa calling for me to come home with them. Before my time comes I want the whole family to sing Remember Me along with me just like when papa and I used to sing it together when I was a little girl" Coco requested for her family to do.
At first the family didn't want to believe that Mama Coco was about to pass away but at the same time they all knew her time was near. With heavy hearts and tears in their eyes the Rivera family began singing Remember Me all together as soon as Miguel began playing the guitar,
"Remember me
Though I have to say goodbye
Remember me
Don't let it make you cry
For ever if I'm far away
I hold you in my heart
I sing a secret song to you
Each night we are apart
Remember me
Though I have to travel far
Remember me
Each time you hear a sad guitar
Know that I'm with you
The only way that I can be
Until you're in my arms again
Remember me."
Coco smiled at her family and thanked them for singing Remember Me for her. "Don't ever forget me and know that I love you all" said Coco before she passed away peacefully surrounded by her family. Everyone began crying especially Miguel who felt like he lost the person he told everything to. "No Mama…." Elena said as she held her mother's hand with streams of tears coming down her face. "I've already lost my father and my little sister Victoria. Now my mother too." Elena's husband Franco along with their three children Carmen, Berto and Enrique went up to Elena and comforted her. The rest of the family did the same before plans were made for Coco's funeral. On the day of Mama Coco's funeral the whole family mourned the loss of Mama Coco as they were dressed in black. Miguel and his cousins Abel and Rosa played both happy and sad music at the funeral because they wanted to cheer not only themselves up but their family as well. When it was time to bury Mama Coco each member of the family said a few words while placing a flower on Mama Coco's casket. "Goodbye Mama Coco. At least you were able to remember Papa Hector before he was forgotten forever and before you died. Plus now you'll be with the rest of our departed family members in the land of the dead. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you, especially Papa Hector" said Miguel as he placed his flower for Mama Coco on her casket.
Meanwhile at the land of the dead Hector and Imelda were in their home playing music. Imelda was singing and dancing as Hector played the guitar. Hector smiled while watching dance as he recalled when he and his were still alive and played music all the time along with Coco. "I love the way you sing and dance Imelda. You look beautiful when you twirl around in your dress" Hector told Imelda. "Thank you Hector and I'm glad you notice because there is something I want you to do with my dress" Imelda winked as Hector caught on real quick.
Before Hector and Imelda could go to their bedroom there was a knock on their door. A messenger came to their house and delivered a notice for them. "What does the note say Imelda?" Hector asked his wife. Imelda didn't reply as she took her husband by the hand and ran to the gates where new arrivals came. "Imelda what's wrong? What did the note say?" Hector questioned as he wondered why Imelda was in such a rush to get to the new arrival gates. Hector knew that's where the new arrivals came from after they passed away in the land of the living. "Look over there" Imelda instructed Hector with tears in her eyes. Hector did what Imelda told him to do and he became shocked at the sight of his daughter Coco. "Coco? Is that really you? My little girl!" Hector said as he ran up to his daughter. "PAPA!" Coco screamed happily as she ran to her father. Hector and Coco hugged each other tightly while crying as they were so happy to see each other. "I've missed you so much. I'm so sorry for leaving you my little girl. Look at you all grown up. You look beautiful just like your mother. I love you so much" Hector cried as he and Coco continued hugging each other. "I've missed you too Papa. I was really upset when you never came back from that tour you took with that awful man Ernesto De La Cruz. But when Miguel told us about how he ended up here in the land of the dead, meeting you and the rest of our family here and how you really died I felt at peace and began telling your stories to our living family who told the whole town who was the real musician behind all of those songs" Coco said to her father.
Hector was happy to hear that everyone knew the truth but was even happier at finally being reunited with his daughter. "Coco" Imelda said as she called out her daughter's name. "Mama I've missed you so much" Coco said as she hugged her mother. "I've missed you too my little Coco. The whole familia will be happy to see you including Julio" said Imelda as she and Hector took Coco home with them and gathered the family together. When the rest of the family arrived and saw that Coco had recently arrived they ran up and hugged her. "Our Sobrina you're here" said Oscar and Felipe who were happy to see their niece. Victoria hugged her mother along with Rosita who were just as happy to see Coco. "My love" Julio exclaimed at the sight of his wife. "My dear Julio I'm so happy to see you" said Coco as she went up to her husband and they kissed. "Even in death you're still the handsome man I fell in love with many years ago." Julio smiled as he hugged Coco. Later that day the whole family celebrated Coco joining them in the land of the dead and couldn't wait for next year's Día de Muertos to visit their living family.