Year: 1998

Year: 1857

It's summertime! I'm all done with kindergarten and I'm a first-grader now! Mommy and Daddy both went to my kindergarten graduation and they didn't fight once the whole time. They even smiled in the picture my teacher took with all three of us together. I was so excited that I smiled suuuuuper big even though I forgot that my mouth is missing teeth now! It doesn't matter, I'm keeping this picture forever.

After the graduation, Mommy took me home and Daddy went back to his new apartment. He doesn't get to live with me and Mommy because they're not married anymore.

I have been really sad about it, too sad to even really talk about it.

It feels like…. you know how people sometimes talk about how when they're so sad they cry a river? I'm pretty sure I've cried an ocean by now, and it's even worse because I can't even swim.

I really get scared that I'll never ever be happy again.

Every time I have seen Daddy since my birthday, he brings me presents so I can remember that he loves me when we are apart. This time, for my graduation, he brought me a bouquet of pink carnations because he said they live the longest time in a vase.

You'll see me again before they wilt .

It was a Saturday. Bruno and I were coloring. Since he's getting better at sending me things, sometimes he'll draw two of the same pictures so we can color them together. This time, it was a rat but it was dressed in people clothes. Bruno sticks his tongue out a little bit when he colors.

"Oy, Lilly?"

"Hmm?"

"I don't mean to be rude. But those flowers look… marchitas ." I tilted my head and he pointed to the vase, " Perdón . They look wilted…" and Bruno gestured to my vase of carnations and kept talking, probably saying something really nice and helpful, maybe even offering to send some over, since flowers grow all year in Colombia and he's able to give me some now.

New flowers. Prettier flowers. Better flowers.

Something in me snapped.

I didn't want those. I wanted mine. I wanted my dried-up, ugly, moldy, brown carnations that didn't even look like carnations anymore because I haven't seen my dad in so long even though he promised. Bruno is so lucky. He lives in a beautiful world with flowers that grow all year, city-wide celebrations for his birthday, and had a dad that loved him so much, he died for him. If his father was was still alive, I'd bet he'd be there for his family now, every day. He wouldn't make Bruno watch flowers die for 38 days and then still not show up.

Bruno doesn't know what it's like to be left behind and, usually, I feel happy for him, but now I feel angry that he doesn't understand me and angry that he's not hurting like I am. So angry that it's burning me.

"I don't want any more of your stupid flowers. Why don't you mind your own business?!" I spat, slamming his fists down on my vanity hard enough to shake my mirror. I don't want to talk anymore. For a really scary moment, I wanted to shatter this mirror into a million pieces.

Click.

Minutes passed.

I felt my anger ebb and fade away into despair.

I broke my promise, and probably hurt my friend. All Bruno ever asked of me was to be nice to him. But then I wasn't, which makes me a liar, just like my dad. If you opened my chest, I'm sure that my heart looks ugly, just like those flowers.

I laid down on my bed, crying more tears to add to my ocean until sleep claimed me. Hours later, I awoke to a shuffling in my room.

I heard the swish swish of a plastic bag and something heavy being thrown inside with a thunk . I knew better than to open my eyes and ask questions. For the second time that night. I cried myself to sleep vaguely hoping that I'd drown.

What just happened?

What did I do?

What did I say?

Where did she go?

Is she coming back?

One, two, three, four, five, six, knocks on the desk, once on his head.

It didn't help.

Again.

One, two, three, four, five, six, knocks on the desk, once on his head, harder this time.

It's not working, nothing is working.

What if she never wants to see me again?

Did she find out how bad I am?

Did she find out that everyone hates me?

Bruno wrapped his arms around himself and rocked his body back and forth, looking for comfort, willing himself not to cry. Boys aren't allowed to cry, especially him.

Because he's a Madrigal. He is above such things.

He looked dejectedly at the door-shaped ornately-framed mirror in its usual spot: on the floor, leaning against the stone wall of his sleeping corridor next to his vision cave. The corridor, because it wasn't scary and dark enough to be called a dungeon but also not inviting enough to be called a bedroom, was simple. A small desk, a hammock, a bookcase, a small dresser for his clothes. His favorite piece was the large bookcase as it had been gifted to him by the most talented craftsman in town, someone Bruno idolized.

With the most basic materials, Lorenzo could create magic. Whenever Bruno was able to slip away from Alma's watchful eye, he would go to Lorenzo's workshop, sit on his stool, and watch him craft more beautiful additions to their paradise. His most recent creation was the stained glass which now hung proudly in the church. As a master of carpentry, blacksmithing, and glass-blowing, he was kept very busy these days building their new Encanto. No matter what was asked of him, (which was a lot) joy was etched in Lorenzo's features as he worked. At night, when Bruno was alone and scared in his dark room, he would find peace tracing his fingers over the embellishments and engravings of the bookcase. It comforted him to know that it was made specially for him and made with love.

"If you want to show someone you cherish them, make them something special with your whole heart."

"That's it!" Bruno exclaimed. "I need to make her something especial. Something so she knows I'm sorry. Right?" He looked to his favorite rat, Queso, who squeaked in approval before climbing up Bruno's body to lovingly groom his head underneath his short curls. His heart felt warm, knowing that rats only did this when they considered you family. Plus if he gets groomed he doesn't need to take baths all the time, right? He considered that a win-win situation.

Steeling is resolve, Bruno slowly and carefully made the short climb down the two flights of harsh, cliff-like steps down to his sandy embankment and continued through the open doorway. He then engaged in another one of his rituals, hopping and down exactly seven times, avoiding any cracks in the floor, while vigorously shaking his head. Usually this was enough to both get virtually all the sand off of him and quiet his nerves.

Lastly, a breath in, a breath out, a promise: "I'll make my family proud today."

With that, he opened his door, turned around to leave his room backwards, and made his way to Lorenzo's workshop.

"Hello, young man." A deep voice greeted, recognizing the shuffling feet of his favorite of the Madrigal children. He was always happy to have Bruno there. If Bruno was in his workshop, he felt comfort knowing that he wasn't being overworked by Alma or mistreated by the villagers. He lived as a man with both eyes open, and was unwilling to pretend that these children weren't suffering under their current circumstances. Especially this kind hearted little boy with a gift that was more like a curse. So, at the very least, his workshop and his wife's library are and will always be safe spots for these children. Not a single person would dare to behave badly in front of Lorenzo. He would never allow it. And if they acted that way in front of his wife Fatima? Que Dios tenga misericordia de sus almas.

" Hola, Sr. Moreno. What are you making today?"

"Come see." Bruno timidly walked towards the workstation and Lorenzo gave an encouraging smile. This time, the Father had asked him for some better pews for the church as what they had right now were beginning to splinter. Lorenzo took his time creating the new pews, with the hope that they would last for generations to come. As he slowly sanded the arm rest, he regarded the child.

"I see you have a question."

Bruno looked down at his feet, " Si. "

"Unbow your head." Bruno willed his head up. " Bueno . Now look at me," Bruno looked at the man as Lorenzo walked towards him, showing that he had his full attention.

"I want to make something for my friend. I made her mad at me and I wanted to make her something to show her I was sorry."

"What did you do?"

"I wanted to give her flowers but then," he inhaled sharply to try to stop his tears, "She yelled at me and called my flowers stupid. And then she ran away." A few drops escaped from his eyes and he quickly wiped them away. Lorenzo clicked his tongue, remembering that this is what Fatima would call a "teachable moment" and trying to fight off the urge to find the child and hold her accountable for his crushed feelings.

"You will not be making the young lady anything today." he said evenly. "Do you understand why?"

Bruno shook his head.

"Because it is she who should be apologizing. Not you." Bruno attempted to protest and Lorenzo held up his hand, silencing the child, "I understand that not one of us is perfect. Mistakes can and will always be made. However, if someone refuses to apologize after they treat you poorly, then you deserve a better friend. You never deserve to be treated poorly. Do you hear me, young man?" Bruno nodded numbly.

"Si, señor. But…" he started, "I don't want to lose her. She's my best friend."

A best friend? Lorenzo considered this. He had always tried to keep watch over Bruno. With that said, he never saw Bruno play with the other children in the village, let alone make friends with them. Sadly, the children often avoided Bruno in worse and more cruel ways than than the adults did, which led Lorenzo to doubt that his best friend actually existed. Regardless, the distress Bruno was exhibiting seemed very real to him, so he continued,

"Is this the first time she has spoken to you this way?" Bruno nodded. "Is there something bad happening in her life right now?" Bruno nodded his head again, furiously. "Ah. Sometimes, we say and do things we later regret when we are dealing with unpleasantness."

"So what should I do?"

Lorenzo smiled. This child is so kind. "She should still apologize to you. You are still owed respect. After that happens, come to me and we can make her something beautiful that will help lift her spirits."

Bruno happily bounced from foot to foot. Of course Lilly would apologize. She's the nicest person he's ever met. He looked at Lorenzo and his heart swelled. Okay, so she's the second nicest person.

Bruno giggled as Lorenzo ruffled his hair. "All right. I'm calling it a day, it's time to for you to go home and help your mamá get ready for dinner."

After many thank yous and goodbyes, Bruno backed out of the doorway and scampered home to casita.

In his haste, he didn't notice that there was child standing outside Lorenzo's window, listening in to the conversation. Even though Pepa was told to find Bruno and bring him home for dinner, she couldn't resist an opportunity to snoop in on someone's personal conversation when she saw one. Pepa simply couldn't help herself.

But this was confusing.

Best friend? He doesn't have any friends. Everyone knows that. Pepa thought. She prided herself in knowing lots of personal information about lots of people and was becoming quite the accomplished gossip in her almost seven years. But Bruno having a friend? She considered this nonsense.

Unless it's not. Pepa kicked a stone and began to make her way back to casita, smiling to herself. Either the friend was fake and her brother was pathetic as ever, or there's a girl out there she knows nothing about.

Well, nothing yet.

After dinner, clean up, and prayers, Bruno made it back to his room with a sigh, knowing that sleep would not come for him for a long time. He was terrified of the dark and his sleeping corridor got very dark. As much as he loved his rats, it certainly did not help matters that he could hear them scurry back and forth throughout the night.

When he looked to the mirror, his heart caught in his throat.

In front of the mirror, he saw a small mountain of items. On the base of the mountain lots of green…. something. "What is that?" He asked.

"It's glitter!" He could almost hear her voice say.

Lilly.

She sent me things. A card with green paper with "IM SORRY" written in big letters, along with every single thing she ever made for him over the last few years, but was unable to send. Until now, apparently.

Pictures, drawings, cards, leaves, rocks. Her portion of the coloring pages they've done together. Last but not least, the most meaningful item: her stuffed bunny, Bugs. Bruno carefully picked the rabbit up and examined it. The material used to make the fake fur fascinated him with its softness. He never felt this kind of texture before.

Bruno carefully went through each gift and softly placed them in his bottom drawer of his dresser, deciding that it will be her drawer now.

He yawned and made his way to his hammock, picking up the stuffed rabbit and holding it in his arms. He pressed his face into its fur and vaguely wondered if this is what Lilly smelled like and if he would get to see her tomorrow.

While he wondered, he closed his eyes and softly fell into the best sleep he'd had since he got his door.

Pink carnation meaning: I will never forget you.

Que Dios tenga misericordia de sus almas: May God have mercy on their souls.

I wanted to clarify about Bruno's room. I read somewhere (not sure if it is canon) that not only was it initially on the second floor next to Pepa and Julieta, there was less sand, less stairs. The worse his isolation and despair felt, the more inconvenient his room became. It would make it harder for others to get to his visions, harder to get to him. I will be using this theory for his room, even though when I read it it had me in tears.

Lorenzo and Fatima are going to be recurring characters, because I like the idea of the kids having some helpful grownups. With Lorenzo, I was inspired by Daedalus after reading a lot of Greek mythology. I figured his kindness and skill set would be sorely needed in the Encanto, especially in its beginning stages.

Thank you for reading! Please let me know what you think!