Dandelions ➞ Camilo Madrigal

prologue

From the time Emilina Cortez could understand words, she was told about the Madrigal family. 

The Madrigal's started with Abuela. Fifty years ago, Pedro Madrigal was murdered in a sacrifice for his wife and three children. After his tragic death, Alma Madrigal was given a miracle. And with that miracle, a house was formed; Casita. When Alma's children came of age, they received special gifts that would be strictly used to benefit other villagers.

And ten years ago, Camilo Madrigal received the gift of being a shapeshifter.

About ten years ago, the Cortez family received an invitation from the Madrigal family, requesting they attend Camilo's gift ceremony. Unable to turn down the offer, the Cortez's graciously attended Camilo's party.

Emilina sat on her father's shoulders, giving her the ability to see over the crowd of much taller people. From the shoulders of Hernando, she was given the ability to view Camilo clearly. He was clearly nervous while walking the pathway to the stairs. 

Camilo was wringing his hands, wobbling down the aisle. Carefully, he climbed the steps to where Alma Madrigal stood, the candle in her hands. She made sure that Camilo would pledge his allegiance to the miracle and to always use his power to help the people of Encanto. 

Before gripping the doorknob, he glanced around him. His parents and sister were stood to the side. A large audience stood below him. Camilo turned his head to the left and locked eyes with Emilina. She waved, smiling at him. He waved discretely before bringing his hand to the doorknob. In a matter of a few seconds, he let out a surprising sneeze and surprised everyone around him when he had momentarily transformed into his father who stood to his right proudly.

"Papá, I look like you!" Camilo exclaimed, giggling. He released another sneeze before returning to his original state, a goofy grin still on his face.

A series of clapping was initiated by someone in the crowd, and soon many claps, whistles, and cheers were heard. Emilina clapped her hands together excitedly. She grinned at the boy with curly hair and he grinned back at her. 

"Come on, mi amor. Let us join the rest of the guests," Gabriela stated, taking her husbands hand and pulling him in the direction of the other guests. 

Hernando stumbled after his wife, smiling. He loved Gabriela with the entirety of his heart. She was his everything and he was hers. They were what many would describe as soulmates.

"Can I get down now, Papá. Por favor?" Emilina asked, ready to be placed on the floor.

"Don't get too lost," he grinned, setting her on the floor beside him. 

Emilina immediately headed towards the stairs, sprinting up them and almost falling in the process. She almost tripped while trying to make her way through the crowd and towards Camilo's room. Once entering the room, she glance around to see Camilo's parents congratulating him. Beside them, his older sister could be seen with her hands over her ears and tears brimming her eyes. But, she was smiling, giving a quick thumbs up to Camilo before placing her hand back on her ear.

She ran up to the family of four, shyly waving at Camilo. He waved back, smiling. He looked up at his mother and father, before they allowed him to run off, meeting people of his own age.

"Hola! I'm Emilina," she grinned.

"I'm Camilo!" he exclaimed. "C'mon we should go find mi prima Mirabel!"

And that's the story of how a long-lasting friendship began between the three.

But, almost ten years later, the friendship suffered a fatal strike. Emilina's mother had passed away. It was shocking to everyone in the village. Señora Julieta was said to have food that could heal anything. She was supposed to be able to heal Gabriela. However, the meals that Señora Julieta produced from the stove were incapable of healing Gabriela. The loss of such a woman so young and kind was horrible for everyone in Encanto, especially her family.

On the day of Gabriela Cortez's death, the sky did not stay it's usual sunny self. Instead, it was a deep gray, expressing Pepa Madrigal's grief. The sky was an appropriate color for the occasion. It was a sad, sad day for everyone in the village. Gabriela was a kind woman who always put other's ahead of herself. Everyday she would be seen helping villagers with their chores. 

And on the day of her funeral, the weather was just as bad. Félix Madrigal tended to his wife, trying to keep her composed so the sky didn't burst in thunderstorms when she let out loud sobs.

Emilina stood in the front of the crowd, holding her sisters hand tightly, not daring to let go. She did not cry at the funeral. However, she cried barrels when she returned to the small house she called home. It didn't feel like home anymore. It felt empty and less lively. On that day, she swore that to protect herself and other's she would stay away from them. 

Emilina believed herself to be a source of bad luck. And to protect herself and others, she wouldn't get close to anyone from that moment on. Days passed, and she spent less and less time with Camilo and Mirabel. She spent less and less time with her father. But, in honor of Gabriela Cortez, she helped villagers in place of her mother. She helped feed and clean animals, take care of children, etc. But through all of this, she did not let her socialization go far. When tending to her neighbors, she spoke very few words to them.

Emilina couldn't allow herself to love someone else. If she did, they would die. And it would be completely her fault. Their families would have to suffer. They would have to feel the same pain she felt. And she couldn't allow that. She had to protect everyone from suffering the same pain she felt. She had to...