Apologies and Regrets
Mirabel and Juano were helping all the wounded. It broke their hearts to see so much pain. They began to feel like they were letting everyone down. Sinfonia and Esperanza walked around, carrying baskets of food which they offered to the hungry and needy. Esperanza became tired. She didn't have very long until her foal was born. Sinfonia gently neighed, imploring her to rest and she gave in, accepting her hooves were wearing her down. She made her way back to Mirabel who stroked her gently as she lay down.
"Here you go," she gave her a few apples. "For you and your calf," she stroked her womb. "Who do you think it will be, Amor?"
"I hope it's a girl," Juano wished.
"What would you want to name it?"
Juano pursed his lips. He had been thinking of a specific name but he couldn't bring it up without upsetting himself. Balthasar approached them; a few scratches marred his arms. They winced. "Don't worry about me,"
"How is everyone?" asked Mirabel.
"They're a lot better. All injuries are not fatal," his words relieved the couple. As long as the people were alive, that's all that mattered. To them, the city was a civilisation of buildings. It was a civilisation of people. They were Milagro de Amor.
"As long as they're all right," breathed Mirabel.
"They may be. But we must act fast before something more catastrophic happens," said Juano seriously.
"I agree," said Balthasar. "Isandra's found some nearby valleys where they can take shelter in until it's safe to live here again,"
"We must get them to safety,"
"That's not the only thing I'm concerned about,"
"What is it?" Mirabel asked.
The florist bit his lip. His eyes were vibrating as he looked at Juano. "Is it okay if I say it?" he nodded, assuring him it was alright to speak. "I think Carlos is sneaking around. He's up to something very bad,". His bad news made the couple quiver. "I saw him spying on the rest of the Madrigals. And I haven't found…his other two children anywhere. Whatever it is that they're up to, it can't be good,"
Juano sprang to his feet. "Search for them! Make sure they haven't gone anywhere near that cave!"
"Absolutely. I'll go check on my friends," he dashed off. The moment he did, all that determination melted from Juano's face and he began hyperventilating slowly. Mirabel stood up and cupped his cheek, turning him towards her comforting eyes.
"It's gonna be okay. Whatever it is, that they're up to, we'll find out,"
Juano grasped her wrist gently. "Mirabel…I want you to go with the people," .
"No," she shook her head. "I'm coming with you. We're in this together,"
"If they're up to something very bad, I don't want you to get involved. I couldn't bear it if…" he felt tempted to say 'father' but the word was bitter to his tongue. "If Carlos hurt you. Or any of his other children,"
Mirabel's heart quaked hearing him speak like that. Though bravery and loyalty dominated her spirit. "I'm with you always. This is OUR HOME. And we will work together to save it,"
"Are you sure? I just want you to be safe,"
"The safest place I could ever be is with you," she cupped his other cheek and he held her other wrist. They smiled. They kissed. They embraced. Their love was the source of their miracle. And their love would be the solution to saving their home and everything they had built together.
Julietta and Agustin helped the injured. The citizens were amazed by the mother's knowledge of herbs and healing and were eager for her to help them. Agustin on the other hand was a little clumsy. They didn't like him as much. Their daughters and Dolores approached them.
"How is everyone, Tia?" asked Dolores.
"They're recovering very well. But I fear this earthquake is just the beginning of what Mirabel and Juano are trying to protect them from," she glanced fretfully up at the green sky. "They want the people to evacuate to a safe place. And that means our people have to leave as well,"
"But we've travelled so far already," complained Luisa.
"What choice do we have?" asked Agustin.
"You won't have far to walk anyway," spoke a voice. They turned their heads to see Isandra approaching. "I found some valleys not too far away. At least for the time being. But the duo are gonna find the cause of this curse and I'm going to stay behind and help them,"
"What kind of curse is it?" Luisa was shaking in her shoes.
"A dark power. But their main priority is getting everyone here to a safe place," she twisted her head, her heart breaking seeing so much damage, so much pain, so much fear. "They have to save this miracle. All these people lost everything…to marauders…their homes, families…"
Hidden from sight, though absorbing her heart-breaking lament, the grandfather and his kids who had offered to help out, felt himself engulfed by a feeling which had remained forever trapped in his body of conflicted regrets.
"Now…" Isandra sniffled and wiped her eyes. "It feels like they're losing everything all over again,"
Isabella stepped forward. "I'm sorry that you feel this way. Isandra…will you please tell us where Mirabel is? We want to speak to her,"
"Isabella now is not the time," Agustin said, knowing Mirabel still wasn't ready.
"Please," Dolores begged. "We really want to speak to her,"
"If you think apologising to her will change anything it won't," Isandra's broken voice was replaced by a tone of bitter resentment. Dolores could clearly see by the resentment in her eyes that she still blamed her for everything Mirabel and Juano had to endure back at the Encanto.
"Isandra, what's past is past," Isabella tried to sooth.
"You'd like to believe that wouldn't you? And I take it with Mirabel gone, you decided you'd keep your so-called friends," she turned around.
"No," Isabella froze her 'mentally'. "I ended my friendship with them. You were right. They were fans. Not true friends. Our friendship was nothing compared to what you and Mirabel have. Dolores regrets everything. I regret everything,"
"And so do I," said Luisa.
"But you didn't do anything wrong," said her elder sister.
"I did. And I really want to apologise to Mirabel for it," she glanced desperately at Isandra. "Please go and talk to your family as well,"
"No way! They'll just try and take everything from me! I'm happy with the family I have," she tried to walk away again but still they wouldn't give up on her.
"Just talk to them! Convince them!" Dolores urged but Isandra still wouldn't turn around. "Try and talk to Camilo,". This time Isandra stopped in her steps; she wouldn't turn. "He's missed you so much. More than you know. I've seen him draw you all the time. And he knows he made mistakes as well. He's really trying to fix them. We can't change the past,". The others agreed. "But we can change the future. You and Mirabel don't have to forgive us…" her voice broke. "but please…please…let us talk to her. And try and talk to him,"
Isandra wouldn't talk back. Nor would she move or turn. Hidden from sight were tears. A part of her had always missed Camillo, all the wonderful moments they shared together as children. And a part of her missed her family. But how could she talk to them? After six years?
Agustin approached her. She didn't turn to him but she remained open to whatever guidance he wished to offer. "Dolores is right. And I know if you and Mirabel don't at least try, you'll both regret it forever. And I know for certain Mirabel feels a little guilty about you choosing to leave your family. It never hurts to at least try to persuade them. But that's your choice. At least talk to Camilo. And let Mirabel talk to her sisters and prima,". She turned slightly and saw his big round eyes which her wet ones couldn't resist.
"She's through that grove," she pointed west.
The sisters and prima were delighted. "And Camilo is with my parents feeding our people," explained Dolores. "You won't regret it. I promise,". With no time to lose, the trio sprinted down the street, leaving Julieta, Agustin and Isandra behind, the latter hoping she hadn't and wouldn't make a big mistake.
Mirabel was tending to Esperanza. But she began neighing in pain a bit. She called a vet and the vet escorted her away. Sinfonia came over and nuzzled her, assuring her he would be right there for her. As they walked away, the stallion suddenly noticed three certain girls walking in the direction of his people. His eyes narrowed recognising the former flower girl who had tried to time down to the ground with vines. Esperanza noticed and snorted. Go to Mirabel and Juano.
Are you sure you'll be fine? Both of you?
We'll be fine. Go.
He gave her a nuzzle and galloped off down the hill back towards a surprised Juano and Mirabel. "What's wrong boy?" he asked.
It's them! He flicked his head to the right and the duo were shocked to see Mirabel's sisters and her cousin. The moment their eyes were set on the missing member of their family, pure joy spilt on their faces. But Sinfonia's eyes narrowed and he neighed loudly, standing on his back legs.
"Sinfonia! No!" Juano cried but his golden horse was now charging at the three girls who screamed and fell on their backs in fright. He towered over them, staring deeply into Isabella who remembered how she had cruelly wrangled him like a crazy bully with her flower powers.
"Nice horsey?" she and Dolores said together.
Sinfonia just sneered his white teeth into their faces.
"Sinfonia! Stop!" Juano called. "Just get off them! Please!"
But his horse wouldn't move. "Please horsey!" Luisa begged. Sinfonia stared down at her. They hadn't had a proper interaction at all. "We're just here to talk,". Still, he wouldn't back up. "I think you owe him an apology, Isabella,"
"Yes," Isabella said anxiously. "I'm sorry I wrangled you with my vines. And I'm sorry for all the mean things I did to Juano. But I apologised to him beforehand. Look we're just here to talk to Mirabel. That's all,"
"Just give us a chance," Dolores begged. "And if we do anything, you don't like you can chase us away all you want,"
Sinfonia snorted. Fine. He backed off allowing them to stand. But when they stood aside, they were alarmed to see Juano and Mirabel had disappeared. They dashed off to find them, desperate to see her again.
Camilo was sitting silently, oblivious to the activities of feeding and tending around him. His mother came over. "What is wrong?"
"I like her mum," he sniffled.
"Who?" she sat beside him.
"Isandra,"
Pepa rubbed his back. "Oh honey,"
"But she likes that flower boy, Balthasar. It's probably too late now. She'd never forgive me anyway,"
Pepa raised her head, glancing at her husband. But something in his eyes twinkled. "Then why do I see her coming up this hill?"
Camillo stood up on alert and to his joy saw Isandra making her way to the base of the hill. When she looked up and saw him, she stopped. She neither smiled nor shouted nor waved. He didn't know how to react. His parents walked off, knowing he felt like he wanted to do this alone.
Isabella, Luisa, and Dolores tried to find Mirabel but they became lost in the camp of injured people and tents. They tried walking past them but they became annoyed.
"Hey!"
"Watch where you're going!"
"Can't you see there are injured people here?"
"Sorry!" Luisa apologised.
"We're just looking for Mirabel," said Isabella.
"Go back to your camp!" shouted an old man, waving his cane at them.
"She don't wanna see you!" snapped a bandaged kid. Soon the entire camp of angry injured people began shouting at the three girls telling them to go away.
Dolores couldn't take it anymore. "Shut upppppppppp!" Everyone winced to the pitch of her voice. She exhaled deeply, not realising how much shouting had taken its toll on her throat. She gasped, not realising she had gone so far like that.
Behind a tent, Mirabel shuddered to the pitch of her voice.
"Mirabel! We know you're here somewhere!" Luisa cried out hoping to distract herself from the wide pairs of countless eyes.
"There's just something we wanna say" Isabella was finally ready to pull out all the regret and guilt that she had been feeling for six years. "You've been a really wonderful Hermana and prima to us. You were always so happy and encouraging for us about our gifts, that we didn't think of you as having any problems with not having one. We weren't there for you like you were there for us. Just like on your fifth birthday when you didn't get a gift like us. And for the next ten years when you were neglected. What kind of a family does that make us? A pretty lousy one I guess,".
The crowd agreed with her, narrowing their eyes at her. They hated to hear how their matriarch had been treated that way. Like she was less important than everyone else. Luisa patted her shoulder, comforting her. Dolores stood up, deciding it was time for her to speak. "I'm so sorry I blurted out Bruno's prophecy to everyone. It was my fault everyone in the town wanted you and Juano gone. I didn't think about the consequences of my actions. And I'm sorry I made you feel uncomfortable by letting everyone you tried to be friends with know you didn't have a gift,". More eyes were narrowed in their direction, specifically at her. They became desperate for them to leave. The heartfelt apologies made Mirabel purse her lips, her skin vibrating slightly. Juano wrapped an arm around her shoulders, comforting her. He was beginning to cry as well, wishing that she was receiving the kind of receiving he could receive from his siblings.
"Well, we just want to know that…" Luisa spoke up, beginning to cry her eyes out. "You're one in a million," That phrase made everyone's eyes widen, and their hatred dissolve away. "The real miracle was you. You were always the heart of this family. You weren't defined by having any gift but by how you treated others. Juano is so lucky to have you. And you're lucky to have him. We're so proud of everything you did for all these people. Everyone in our family is. And we know Abeula is too,"
Mirabel was brought to tears. All her life she had wanted her family, aside from her parents to be proud of her. Particularly Abeula. That desperation had faded away a long time ago but now that she was hearing it, she didn't know what to say or do or feel.
Luisa kept talking. "Juano…we're really grateful for everything you did for Mirabel. You were there for her when we weren't. And we're so sorry for the hardships your own family put you through. No one like you deserves it. Especially one who's so special. But…" She was beginning to cry and that act of heartfelt emotion made their audience start to tear up. "We're not gonna leave without any of you knowing…" She couldn't continue.
Isabella held her hand tenderly and stepped in. Shedding tears of her, she confessed. "…we love you Mirabel…". This time Mirabel was beginning to cry. "And…you're part of our family Juano too,". Mirabel cried so much that the tearful Juano pulled her into her arms to cry against his chest.
Close by, Antonio, Pedro and the twins started crying as well. What they heard was so sweet. The couple wondered what they should do now. Should they go out and greet them?
Camilo and Isandra were standing opposite each other, speechless, and unresponsive. "So?" Isandra spoke up.
"So?" he repeated back.
"Don't you want to…say something?"
"Yes, I do! Yes…I do. Isandra…" he twiddled his fingers. "I've thought about you…a great deal over the years,"
"I know. Dolores told me herself. She told me where to find you,"
"I regret everything. I regret how I focused more on impressing my Abeula than I did on our friendship. I just wanted her to be proud of me. I wanted to make the family proud of me but I became so obsessed with it that I lost focus on what was important to me. Our friendship," as he spoke, he pulled out a small golden pendant and it glimmered under the little amount of light shining down from the sky, just beyond the vast green clouds, a beacon of hope.
Isandra's eyes became showery again. "You've really kept that? All this time?"
He nodded. "I've never even taken it off. Not once,". She began crying. "Please don't cry. You deserve no tears,"
"If I had known…"
"No. I don't blame you for hating me all this time. And I know you hate your family for trying to tear you and Mirabel apart…but….they have missed. And Gabriella. A lot,"
Isandra still didn't know what to say. She couldn't accept those words at all. She didn't know how she could forgive them for treating Mirabel so terribly. Nor could she forgive them for ruining her tia and tio's relationship with one another. "I can't," she shook her head. "How can I talk to them? And how can my tia Gabriella?"
Camillo couldn't find the answer to that at all. He raised his head to look at Isandra again but then he saw someone sneaking off. Isandra noticed his distracted face and turned around. She narrowed when she saw it was Carlos. She turned her head to him. "Have you seen his children anywhere?"
"No," he shook his head. "They've been sneaking around lately. I don't know what they're up to," he approached her very slowly. "Isandra…I know Mirabel and Juano are trying to help. But we want to help them as well. I want to help,"
"No. We can't involve anyone else. You and everyone else have to leave here with our people as soon as possible. It's just gonna be the few of us finding out the cause of this. We can't risk anyone else getting hurt,"
"So you, Mirabel and Juano are staying behind? Risking your lives?"
"We have to. For our people. To save this miracle. We can't lose our home. We have to at least try,"
"Then let us help you,"
"No. You guys have to leave with everyone,"
"But we all came here just for you guys. And I'm not leaving without you,"
Isandra pressed her lips firmly. "Then you should leave now while you still can,". Before Camillo could say anything else, she turned and ran down the hill, shedding tears.
That's the next chapter finished. What did you all think? I hope you all enjoyed it. Please let me know what you all thought and also, please send over any requests for what you'd like to happen next. Thank you all very much for your support and see you all soon.
