Summary:
"I wish I could recall time so I could stop reliving that night."
Gabriela Álvarez wakes up from a particularly bad nightmare, fueled from past trauma that she has not yet fully processed before her family unceremoniously moved to the magical town of Encanto.
-o-o-
Written in Gabriela's POV.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
I've been having the same nightmare for a few nights now.
I'm running. Something hits me from behind. Hard.
I'm in pain. Searing pain.
I'm so used to this by now that I know that I just need to breathe. Just breathe.
I'm fine.
I'm dreaming.
It's not real. The pain isn't real.
It's all just a dream.
I wake with a jolt.
I feel the wetness on my cheeks.
How long have I slept?
I lie back down, staring at the ceiling, unmoving.
I wish I could recall time so I could stop reliving that night.
I squeeze my eyes shut. I try to brush lingering thoughts away. The town outside is starting to come alive, beginning a new morning. I finally decide to get up.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"Mi hermana muy hermosa…I have a favor to ask, please?"
I roll my eyes at the young man behind the counter. It's so early in the morning and my brother's already laying his compliments very thick. "And what is that, mi hermano?" I say as sweetly as possible, maybe too sweet.
He grins sheepishly. "I think I forgot my lunch back home. Think you could get it for me?"
I groan. "Fine. I'll be back with it as soon as possible. Don't you dare even do anything funny until I get back."
Julián shrugs as I turn to leave. "No guarantees, hermana. Also…could you sneak me a pandemono too?"
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
I take a deep breath as I make the walk back home, taking in the charming vibe of Encanto. The town is indeed a hidden paradise, surrounded by tall mountains and dense forests. We've only been here for a few weeks, but I've fallen in love with the place. The people here are much friendlier and the food is phenomenal.
I wish I could say the same about the weather though. It could be better.
"Ah, princesa, back home so soon?" Mamá greets me as I enter through the door of our humble casa.
"Julián forgot his lunch again, Mamá," I grumbled, giving her a quick peck on the cheek as I walk past her to the kitchen to grab my brother's forgotten lunch. "Ese bribón." I turn to look at her, sighing. "Also, I thought I asked you not to call me that."
"¿Qué, princesa? Ay, can't your mother show her mija affection?" She tuts at me as I try to steal a pandebono she's cooling on the counter. "Tsk, Gabriela, you know that'll spoil your appetite."
I take one anyway and stuff it in the pocket of my dress. She shoots me a warning look, and I raise my hands in defense and laugh. It isn't for me anyway. I walk out and head straight for the door, Julián's lunch in hand. "You know I didn't mean it that way, Mamá, but it's just so odd to hear you call me that, given I'm already of age, you know?"
Mamá eases up and laughs. "Siempre vas a ser mi bebé, pase lo que pase."
"¡Má!" I turn beet red. I'm thankful we're not out in public. She laughs again as I make my exit.
"Tell Julián he's been so forgetful lately it's a surprise he didn't forget to wear his pants!"
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
The midday sun shines as I walk back to the mercado, past the throes of people doing their morning shopping, and towards the small store nestled at the edge. I glance up to look at the sign I so proudly designed that's hanging outside, written in beautiful cursive: Música Elena.
Papá always said that Mamá is his muse and made it a point to name the shop after her, even back then.
I shake my head to ward off my thoughts and knock on the wooden frame of the door as I enter. The bell chimes and Julián suddenly perks up, immediately sitting straight before realizing it was just me, and not some customer.
"Óye, Julián. Are you dozing on the job?" I tease as I throw the pandemono from my pocket at him. He manages to catch it despite my weak throw. I try not to look too impressed as I settle his lunch bag on the counter in front of him. "Here's your lunch. Mamá says it's a miracle you didn't forget your pants."
He grunts. "Ha, good joke." He rummages through the bag, pandemono in his mouth, making the rest of his speech almost unintelligible. "I just forgot because Papá was rushing us today. Something about a new customer." He turns to me as he continues to chew. "Good that you didn't try to steal my snacks. Thanks for the pandemono. Did Mamá know I asked you to take one?"
"Don't talk with your mouth full, tonto." He gives me a dirty look and I laugh. "No, she didn't, but you should really stop sneaking extras." I rolled my eyes. "And you didn't answer my earlier question."
"Loca," he grumbles as he finishes the bread. "You try watching the store. And I wasn't napping, I was just resting my eyes."
"I'm pretty sure I caught you napping. I'm going to tell Papá."
I barely miss the tomatillo he throws at me before the door opens again, almost hitting Papá and the tiple he has in his hands.
"Óye, Gabriela. Julián." He sighs as he walks towards the back of the store to his workbench and places the instrument gently on the table. Julián and I freeze. Whoops.
"He started it!"
"She started it!"
We both say at the same time and try to explain, our voices overlapping with one another. Papá pinches the bridge of his nose, exasperated. "Tranquila ustedes dos." He says over our bickering. "Aren't you two too old to be pulling pranks on each other?"
"Gabriela is." Julián snickers as I nudge him in the ribs. "¡Ay!" Papá gives me a warning look. Wow. Twice in one day.
"Si, si. Lo siento, Papá," I say, picking up the poor tomatillo on the floor. "Won't pull anything funny in the store ever again."
He looks at me and Julián and sighs again. He knows it's a big white lie. We pull this shit all the time. "Tienes suerte. You're lucky you're my children. I couldn't fire you both even if I wanted to."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"How was today, mi amor?" Mamá asks while we're having dinner. Papá chuckles. "Ah, mi vida, besides Elitta and Julíto's usual antics, I'd say we're getting a better amount of foot traffic visiting the shop now."
"¡Maravilloso!" Mamá smiles, practically beaming. "I know how worried you are about the store not doing as well as we did then."
Julián almost chokes on his arepa at Mamá's words. I quickly hand him some water. Oh Dios, espero que no hayan visto eso…
Thankfully, they don't notice. "Si. But it's alright. We'll make it somehow."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Glossary of terms (in order of appearance in-text):
Mi hermana muy hermosa - My very beautiful sister
Mi hermano- my brother
Pandemono - a type of cheese bread made with cassava flour and Costeño cheese
Casa- house/home
Princesa - princess
Ese bribón- that rascal
Qué - What
Mija - daughter
Siempre vas a ser mi bebé, pase lo que pase- No matter what, you'll always be my baby
Mercado- market
Música - Music
Óye - Hey
Tonto - fool/idiot
Loca - crazy (feminine)
Tiple - a plucked string instrument of the guitar family, one of Colombia's national instruments.
Tranquila ustedes dos - Calm down, you two
Ay- (depending on context) Ouch/Oh
Si - Yes
Lo siento - I'm sorry
Tienes suerte - You're lucky
Mi amor - My love
Mi vida - My life
Maravilloso - marvelous
Arepa - a type of corn cake/bread made from ground maize dough and either pan-fried or grilled
Oh Dios, espero que no hayan visto eso - Oh God, I hope they didn't see that