"Impossible. There is no way I could get you married."

The end.

"Father," Abuela intervened diplomatically. "I know that it is not a conventional union, but I would stick my neck out for the love between my son and… my granddaughter… ahem…"

"Maybe the hell will help with that…"

"Father, truly, there is nothing impure in their…"

"Alma, it's nothing personal. If it were up to me, I'd give them an assessment to consider the case, but… the Encanto is open now. This decision is no longer up to me. I answer before a superior. Not being isolated, a decision of this caliber corresponds to the Roman pontiff; only he could give you the exemption."

"So…" Mirabel said with a discouraged expression.

"I am sorry, Mirabel, but your only option is to get out of the Encanto and send your request to the Pope. However, that would be…"

"Dangerous," I opined knowing that we had just come across a blocked road.

"And slow. As things stand, the answer could take years to come, if it comes at all. And honestly, it's highly likely to be negative."

"I see…" Mirabel answered, lowering her gaze and leaving the Church with a slow step.

"Thanks for your time, Father."

"I'm sorry I can't be more of a help, Alma."

Abuela came out and I got ready to follow them.

"Bruno!"

"Yes, Father?"

"Think carefully about what you're doing, please. Alma may have accepted it, but I'm sure you're aware that this is sheer madness."

I couldn't contradict him.

"I've never been known to be the sanest member of the Encanto, have I?"

"But, Bruno…"

"Good day, Father."

I wasn't going to back down; not after all we had been through. Now, we would only have to find a way to get ahead.

"You okay?" I asked Mirabel when Abuela got into the house.

"Yes… It wasn't the ideal answer, but… we already knew it wouldn't be easy. At least, we have each other now. We will think of a solution together."

I took her hand and nodded. If I was with her, I could face the Pope himself.

"So… are you gonna try to get married?"

"Yes, pa."

Agustín's face was a poem. I had to do it; I couldn't keep running from him.

"Agustín, I… am sorry. I've failed you. You asked me to take care of her, and I… I'm sure it wasn't exactly this kind of taking care of that you had in mind. I was telling the truth when I told you that I would do anything for her, but I realized that continuing to run away from her was doing none of us a favor."

Agustín, erect and serious, serenely approached me and put his hand on my shoulder. Had he always been this tall?

"Bruno, hermano…" he said then with a soft and affectionate tone. "This kind of caring, as you say, is exactly what I was referring to."

"What?!"

"Come on, Bruno, it was crystal clear that you were head over heels for her. And, honestly, I can't think of anyone better to take care of her than you. Not everyone is capable of giving literally everything for a loved one. You did it with her even before you fell in love. What wouldn't you do now?!"

"So, that talk, wasn't it a warning?"

"Warning? I was giving you my blessing! I thought that I was being clear enough."

Mirabel burst out laughing out loud and Agustín hugged me and lifted me up into the air as if he were playing with a rag doll.

It was clear that I had to train my social skills. Six years of believing I was betraying one of the most important men in my life and it turns out he was patiently waiting for me to make up my mind to do what I thought he would hate.

"I think I need a break…"

"Eat, hermano."

Julieta gave me one of her delicious buñuelos and I could feel how part of the fatigue was escaping from my body. She thought I hadn't noticed, but it was obvious that since she made me rejuvenate, I hadn't aged a year. I should probably be grateful to her; one day I might have a wife to please and I didn't want to see myself unable to do so.

"Thanks, Julieta and… thank you, Agustín, really."

"Well, and now… What's the plan?" he asked putting on his ridiculous business face.

"If… if we want to do things right…" I said not daring to propose what crossed my mind.

"We have to leave the Encanto, pa. But, we'll be back, I promise."

Agustín's worried face did not go unnoticed.

"I'll go with you," Luisa said putting her hand on her chest. "I know better the outskirts and, in case of danger, I can defend you."

"I… I'm going too," Isabela added, sadly turning her eyes toward Camilo.

"No, you are not coming," Mirabel categorically imposed. "Luisa, you have your own life to solve. You're not going to drop everything to fix mine; I wouldn't forgive myself. And, Isabela… I think we both know you don't want to come. Stay and take care of the family."

"But…" they both muttered.

"Don't worry. Bruno can foreshadow dangers, we'll be on the lookout; and you know that he is elusive and good at hiding. We will make it."

"And what if they deny you the papal dispensation?" Pepa asked trying to move away the dark cloud that covered her.

"Then… I think you all know the answer."

"Eeeeveryone straight to hell," Felix said taking a sip of his juice as if he wasn't giving it the slightest bit of importance. "They because of the pagan wedding and life in sin and us for celebrating it with joy."

He winked at us, as if approving of such a questionable way of life, and got up from the table.

"Aaand, bedtime now. Some of us have a legitimate marriage to keep standing."

"Papá!" Camilo protested at the excess of information.

Pepa got up amused and followed her husband.

"Good night, family," she said standing under the doorframe. "And, Bruno, please, make sure you don't start another miracle. We want you back, okay?"

I swallowed hard. Of course, my father's fate was not the most desirable, but it was still a possibility. Yet still, a warm feeling ran through my chest. There were people who really cared about me.

"I'll try."

"Do it."

Pepa left the dining room and Mirabel got up too.

"Today has been a very tiring day, so… I'm going to bed too."

"Okay, amor. Get your deserved rest," Julieta replied hugging her. "From now on things will be difficult, but, mi vida, I'm glad that you have finally managed to make my big-headed brother see reason. Thanks to you, he has finally found his way. Suffer what you have to suffer, but, above all, enjoy, alright?"

"I love you, mamá."

Julieta and Mirabel hugged each other even more tightly and Agustín, who would have exploded if he hadn't, joined the hug. Afterward, Mirabel gave me a tired but sweet smile and walked away.

"You could also use some rest, Bruno," Julieta said with a mischievous smile. "Go for her."

Julieta was right: the day had been intense, scary, exciting, and happy, but despite the important change that was happening in our lives, Mirabel and I still hadn't had our moment.

That understanding and hospitable sister, always looking out for me, I was sure I didn't deserve her.

I nodded and went after her. As I supposed, she had gone straight to our hole.

"Mirabel…"

An intense embrace of relief and satisfaction, a passionate kiss of reunion, a little effort to control the rest after so long... that was what I was expecting to find.

"Shush! Let me listen!"

Confused and curious, I approached that unpredictable woman who shamelessly nosed through the crack in the wall that led to the kitchen and closed my eyes to get a better listen.

"So she rejected you outright, huh?" I heard Isabela say with the same tact as always.

"Yeah. She says I'm like a brother to her…"

"Ouch…"

"Tell me about it."

Camilo… Oh… So, they were talking about Mirabel? She had rejected him?

I opened my eyes unable to contain the need to see her before me, real, overcoming obstacles one by one and, as incredible and crazy as it sounded, officially my girlfriend.

"Come closer," she whispered pulling my hand and pressing my cheek against hers. "I bet we're about to see something interesting."

Camilo had a sad and resigned air, but Isabela, within the hint of compassion in her eyes, seemed happier than ever.

"I've been liking her for a long time, you know? But she… she's my cousin, we couldn't do anything, so, I let it go. But then, that day six years ago, I saw her defend Bruno to Abuela. And she did it with grit, with courage. She was standing up for what she wanted. In that instant, I liked her more than I had ever and, at the same time, I felt inside me, that before I started trying, I had already lost her. I didn't know why she knew about Bruno, but it was clear that she had met him and, also, that he was already someone special to her. I don't know, it was just a feeling that I couldn't explain. But then… he came back and he was totally different from what I had been told, and his relationship with Mirabel was really special and… come on, even Agustín realized it. They fit perfectly. In there, there was no room for me. Still, every morning I wake up listening to her happily knocking on my door and I'm happy to know she's here. When she leave…"

"Well, we may need an alarm clock, but when she leave… there are more sisters who can knock on your door, you know?"

"It's not about the door, Isabela… It's…"

But he didn't say more. He couldn't have done so: Isabela's lips were sealing his.

"Just so you think about it," she said getting up with a seductive air and a cat look. "See you tomorrow, Camilo."

Camilo stood still in place, his mouth ridiculously open and his gaze fixed on the arch through which Isabela had disappeared.

Mirabel squeezed my arm tightly and I had to stifle a cry of pain so that Camilo wouldn't notice our presence.

"I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!" she exclaimed in whispers, pacing from one end of the room to the other with a spectacular sparkle in her eyes.

"Has he declared his love to you?" I asked somewhat ashamed of my curiosity.

"Ah… yeah. He appeared transformed in you and declared his love for me and I kissed him before I knew it wasn't you… Then I noticed and withdrew him. He said that if I didn't make a disgusted face it would be easier for him to tell me so he used your shape, but he didn't mean to kiss me."

So I arrived at the worst time and left before I understood what was happening. Nice job, Bruno.

"Do you see him as a brother?"

"He is my adventure buddy. We've been doing mischief together all our lives and keeping quiet about each other's crimes. I couldn't see him any other way."

"You told me."

"About the crimes?"

"No, you told me you couldn't see him any other way. And I…"

"Bruno…"

"I should have believed you. I knew you were serious, but I thought you were wrong; that no one could love me enough not to choose him over me. I am so sorry."

"You understand now, right? It'll be you, only you, and always you. As the wisest woman I know once told me, I wish you could see yourself the way I do. You are perfect just like this."

"Oh, no, I'm not perfect at all, but… if you like me the way I am… then… I feel perfect for you."

I rubbed the side of my arm slightly uncomfortably and she laughed at my reaction.

"It's not my birthday, but… would you sleep with me, perfect man?"

"I couldn't imagine a better plan."

I sat in the hammock and offered her my hands.

"Come'ere, kid."

"Kid…"

"Is it weird? It's weird, of course it's weird. I'm sorry, from now on…"

"I like it. I always liked it. Call me kid."

Mirabel took my hands and, placing herself between my legs and without getting yet into the hammock, gently kissed my lips.

"It's real," she whispered deeply losing herself in my eyes.

"It's real."

I could touch her without fear, I could kiss her lips at will, I could share my life with her. No more walls, no more distance, no more regrets. Finally, by whatever means, I was going to be his and Mirabel was going to be mine. I could have died of sheer pleasure right then and there, but I had no intention of missing out on what life had in store for me. I would be there for her; no matter what it cost, I would see her grow old.

That night, a strong earthquake shook the Encanto and I could not have foreseen that change.