Let me know
Mirabel knew that the hardest part of creating a new life was making sure that her heart wasn't left broken, ever since she ran away she was always used to getting hurt and brokenhearted so she was very cautious.
"Mija are you okay?" Héctor asked
"Si, I just…" She stopped
Héctor turned to his granddaughter very confused and somehow it saddened him to think that whatever was going through her head wasn't good and wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. Mirabel shifted her gaze away from the couch getting up she sighed going to the kitchen and putting the dishes away, Héctor somehow knew and followed her he knew the feeling all too well.
She quietly began washing the dishes that were left when the two had the conversation she tried to ignore the pain but it got the best of her.
"Mi Vida, sweetheart you don't look well". Daphne sighed
"I'm fine I promise ". Mirabel replies
"You're lying Mija ". Héctor looked concerned
"I SAID I'M FINE". She snapped at Héctor
Mirabel then gasped and turned and ran out the door, Julio and the rest were very concerned for their darling Mija. Imelda turned to Daphne but she sighed and ran after her granddaughter. Imelda looked concerned turning to Héctor worried about what happened, Héctor had the same look of confusion and cautiousness on his face mirroring his wife.
"Que Paso? What happened did you do something ?" Julio asked
"That's the thing Mijo I have no idea, she just drifted into thoughts and then went up to clean the dishes. It wasn't till after that I noticed she was pale like she had seen something, she looked at me like I was going to hurt her". Héctor explained
"Pale?" Rosita questioned concerned
Héctor nodded sadly.
Meanwhile, with Daphne she had finally caught up to her granddaughter, Mirabel looked panicked and tried running Again when she turned to Daphne it was like she didn't recognise her anymore.
"Mija Mi angel come here baby". Daphne asked
"Please don't hurt me I was just helping Isabela I promise I'll clean it up just don't hurt me". She cried
Daphne looked sad that her granddaughter thought she was Alma and she going to make sure when Alma got here she was going to go through almost the same amount of pain that she put her darling Mira through.
Daphne was careful to step closer to her slow and easy so that she wouldn't scare her. Mirabel looked up at her and tears streamed down her face as she hugged her Abuela.
"Lo siento, I -I -I didn't m-mean". She stumbled and choked on tears
"Estas bien Mija, I've got you no one going to hurt you Mi angel I'm here". Daphne comforted hugging her
"Let's go home". She decided
Mirabel felt like she had made a huge mistake snapping at Héctor and thinking that her Abuela was Alma she wondered if she was going crazy.
'No I can't be, it was one time'. She sighed
~~ The next day ~~
The next morning she went to the doctors to see what was going on and she had Luisa, Elena and Miguel for comfort in case she stressed out. She was sitting in the waiting room Miguel sitting right next to her soft grip on her hands reassuring her if need be.
"You have got this Mi Amor, I'll be here always if you need me let me know okay?" Miguel reassures
Mirabel nods a small smile on her face
"What if I turn out to be crazy?" She asked
"Then I'll be crazy with you, but that's impossible there's only one thing ". He looked her in the eyes
"Which is?" She coaxed
"Your beauty ". He joked
Mirabel smiled, laughing he always had a way of putting her mind at ease especially when it came to making her laugh this was what true love felt like.
"See it works doesn't it". He chuckled
"I guess it does". She smiled
"You do not need to worry you're strong you're going to be fine". He put his forehead against hers looking her in the eyes
"Ready Mija?" Luisa asked
She nodded confidently standing up and smiling, Luisa hugged her tightly and smiled. Elena soon followed suit Mirabel felt her confidence rise and she was grateful for the support her family gave her.
Just then the doctor stepped out of her office looked at her clipboard and scanned the room.
"Mirabel Madrigal?" Señora Melendez called
Mirabel then stepped forward and smiled and she smiled back softly, She looked back towards her family and sighed.
"We'll be right here waiting". Elena said
Miguel gave her a small nod of encouragement that led her to have confidence and push through smiling she knew she could do this.
'I can do this' She hyped herself up
Mirabel then stepped through to the office and the first thing she noticed was the chairs and cushions smiling she took her seat when Señora Melendez offered it to her.
"So I hear you've been having some trouble lately, let's see if we can nail that down shall we?" Señora Melendez started
Mirabel smiled and nodded for the go-ahead.
"So any panic attacks?" She asked
"Si, they would usually last for 5 to 10 minutes ". Mirabel replies
"I see". Señora Melendez wrote it down
"Any flashbacks". She continued
"Only small ones". Mirabel quickly answers
Señora Melendez continued to write down all the symptoms, Mirabel on the other hand was nervous and waiting for the answers so she could figure out what was going on.
"Looks like you have PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder meaning you've experienced things that are highly traumatic from your past and you have trouble dealing with it, But not to worry love it'll go away with time as long as you learn to practice these things slowly."Señora Melendez explains
" Mow in some cases these don't always work but they do help control it meaning that it won't arise entirely but it will help you control it over time". She adds
"What do I do?" Mirabel asked worried
Señora Melendez gently held her hands and smiled at her. Mirabel slowly felt better and sighed relieved she was not going through this alone.
" Well for starters love maybe some nice calming slow deep breath exercises that way whenever you try to think of something negative breath helps calm your brain down and slowly into an easier happier memory". She said
"Okay". Mirabel sighed
"Now try with me". Señora Melendez asked
"In one, two, three and out slowly". She guided her
Mirabel felt her whole world easing just with that practice and she didn't feel negative thoughts our panic attacks happen it all felt easy, She tried a couple more of these and then opened her eyes.
"Feel better dear?" Señora Melendez asked
Mirabel slowly nodded
Mirabel then shifted her bag over and pulled out her sketchbook and Melendez smiled and chuckled.
"Sorry, it helps me calm down". She explains
" Nothing to be sorry for darling everyone experiences Calmness in their way it happens differently for every single one of us ." She smiled
"Gracias ". Mirabel thanked
For the next hour and a half they about everything that Mirabel was going through and when they were done Mirabel smiled feeling a new sense of confidence and relief knowing that she was not going to be alone for this journey like she had before.
When they left the office Mirabel felt a weight lift off her shoulders. As Expected Miguel, Elena and Luisa kept their promise. They hugged her and smiled glad she was okay, While the Señora Melendez took The two ladies aside to explain what happened Miguel took her by the hand.
"Told you". He smirked
"Stop it, it was great to finally get out all the problems that have bugging me for ages, apparently you're such panic attacks and PTSD". Mirabel replies
Miguel shrugged and smiled.
"I have the same thing trust me it goes away over time, if it doesn't I'm always here for you you know that right?" He chuckled lightly
"I know and I love you for it". She smiled
The next couple of weeks were easier and easier to handle, although sometimes the panic would settle in quickly. But no matter what her family was always there to support her, especially Miguel every time she felt like having a panic attack or a bad memory came up in her flashbacks he was always there to help her breathe and to think of all the happy things.
Mirabel had always thought it would be hard for her to fall in love. But it's her best friend it was no problem at all she found it quite comforting knowing that he was right there by her side whenever she needed him.
Imelda and Mirabel were stitching when suddenly she felt a flashback and it happened quite fast, Imelda quickly turned to her and took her hands demonstrating slow breathing. But she shook her head it wasn't working.
Mirabel felt her heart caught in her chest, She tried breathing but it was not helping she couldn't slow down.
"N-No please Abuela, I just want to help". She stammered crying
Imelda turned further scooting close held her hands and smiled.
"Ssh Mija darling, I'm here Estas bien I promise ". She comforted
Mirabel just kept moving away as all she could see was Alma scolding her and sending her to her room.
~~ 5 minutes later ~~
Imelda tries to settle her but she's just wandering around the room pacing and curly in on herself she can't stand this pain, she tries to demonstrate breathing slowly but Mirabel keeps moving away.
"Tio, I just want Tio back was I not good enough?" She says
Imelda is heartbroken she can't do anything, Miguel had just come back from the plaza with Héctor when he saw his novia in such a state.
"What happened?" Héctor asked
"We were just sewing she had a massive flashback I tried leading her into her breathing exercises but it hasn't worked she keeps moving away from me she thinks I'm Alma". Imelda explains clearly worried
Miguel knew this wasn't going to help her so he sat her down on the couch, As Imelda went to grab water for her.
"Hey, hey I'm here Mi Amor, you're safe no one is gonna hurt you". He took her hands In his
"N-No please don't please". She cried
Héctor looked broken at the fact that his granddaughter was just not feeling like herself and she usually was such a happy, bubbly person and to see her like this broke his heart completely. Meanwhile, Miguel squeezes her hands tightly looking her in the eyes demonstrating breathing patterns so that Mirabel can be reminded how to breathe again.
"One, two, three in and one, two, three out". Miguel demonstrates slowly
After a couple more slow deep breaths, Mirabel was able to bring her back slowly to reality. When she opened her eyes she sighed. Miguel tucked a curl behind her ear and smiled relieved she was okay.
"Miguel". She whispered
"Right here darling ". He smiled
Imelda came back with the water and passed it to her relieved she was okay. She took a sip smiling as Héctor sighed too.
Héctor hugged her tightly.
"Lo siento, I didn't mean to scare you". Mirabel apologises
"You don't need to apologise love we are just glad you're okay". Imelda sighed
Imelda hugged her tightly and she smiled chuckling.
" I know you tried to help but sometimes it just gets too tricky and too hard". She whispered
"Estas bien Carina, all that matters is that you're okay". Imelda smiled
"We are always here if you need us love just let us know." Héctor said
How true family was always going to be there for her when she needed it the most through pain through love, through anything that the world trusts her she will always have them…