a/n - thank you so much for all your reviews thus far! I look forward to hopefully uploading more frequently this week, I also intend to upload more chapters to some of my frozen fics, lots more angst anna and elsa chapters to come soon...

Any ideas for this fic are welcome!

Morning embarked both beautifully and brokenly. Another day, another endurance. Dragging her feet along the floor, Mirabel pushed her window ajar, disrupting the quiet stillness that the raindrops on her windowpanes had long enjoyed. She too felt similar.

She used to be mine. That little girl, who held her head high, and possessed such a fearlessness and bravery. But, that little girl feared monsters under the bed and myths in the mountains. She feared what she couldn't see.

And then she saw that door shut down, and regrettably taking her hand in his, built a new relationship with fear. Her infantile fears washed away, with something much darker taking space. Nowadays, Mirabel was the embodiment of what could have been. That night marked with her potential that she would never be able to live up to. It flourished even further now, neglecting the Mirabel that people knew, leaving her outgoing nature to decay in the mountains she longed to run to, parting with who she was had been so seamless, so easy.

Still, she had boundaries.

A walking crime scene, Mirabel creeped down the stairs with the intention of erasing the evidence of last night. Truthfully, she wanted rid of it. It was itching, and catching on her clothes. Yes, she needed it gone.

They can never know

Make my family proud

"Mirabel?" A tired voice emerged from the dim courtyard. As Mirabel descended the staircase, her heart dropped further with each step. "What are you doing up?"

"Isabela" Mirabel greeted, adjusting her sleeve accordingly. "I could ask you the same question" She straightened her posture, and found herself smoothing her hair. Isabela had that effect of making you acutely aware of your appearance at any point you should stand beside her.

"I was getting ready." Isabela replied, "and you?"

"Same." Mirabel asserted. "The sky's awake, so I'm awake."

"You don't get up this early, like ever." Isabela furrowed her brows, looking intently at her sister. Dark circles, not especially out of the ordinary, but odd nonetheless.

"Maybe I do now" Mirabel shrugged

"Do you?"

"Yes"

It fell quiet as Isabela began to study Mirabel. It was unnerving, being stared at for an extended period of time. This was out of the norm, Isabela should've left this conversation ages ago.

"Are you okay?" Isabela prompted, putting her hand on her hip.

"Wha- why are you asking?" Mirabel frowned.

"Mama asked me to look out for you, she's worried about you." Isabela recited. "I had no idea why until-"

"I'm fine" Mirabel assured. Then it dawned on her what Isabela had said. How many people know? "I'm okay." Mirabel repeated, only this time she wasn't trying to convince her sister. Isabela remained sceptical. The more Mirabel spoke, the more she cringed, she could feel it, she was digging her own grave. "I'm going out today actually, town" Plans, distance herself from the nursery, this was somewhat productive.

"You would tell me if something was wrong, right?"

Mirabel hesitated.

"I know we argue, a lot." Isabela rolled her eyes, smiling lightly. "But you're my sister, always. You can trust me."

"Thanks sis." Mirabel returned the smile. That familiar feeling returned, one that she still hadn't gotten used to. Anyone aside from her parents showing concern for her. She want to stay in that feeling forever, whilst simultaneously escaping it as soon as possible. Maybe it was because she was being proved wrong, perhaps she wanted to keep hold of being centre of their attention, feeling seen, until ultimately realising why that is. She didn't want to worry them. It was an awful cycle of praying someone would come to her rescue, and never bring it up again. "I should be going." Mirabel decided. Where to, she had no idea. But she left quickly, darting her eyes away from Isabela, and heading to the kitchen, swiping an arepa con queso for her travels.