A Room of One's Own

"Mirabel! You need to see this!" Antonio cried.

The elation everyone felt from taking the family photo was still sinking in as Mirabel followed Antonio's hand. He and the casita guided Mirabel up the new stairs to the 2nd floor.

In all the excitement, Mirabel completely forgot that when they were reconstructing the house, the family decided to give her a space of her own, a room right next to Antonio's. Mirabel's mouth dropped slightly as she saw that her room was glowing. She had a door, a carving of herself, with her name at the top.

When Mirabel walked inside her room, the casita welcomed her in by shaking up the tiles and lighting up some wonderful structures. It reminded Mirabel of a loft, with her bed placed high, close to a large window. There was a huge bookshelf right off from the door, with drawers full of thread for her embroidery. The shelves were filled with blank notebooks, ones that were labeled with the names of each of her family members. Mirabel smiled as she realized the implication.

There was also a nice sitting area across from the bookshelf.

"Oh my god, sis!" Isabela cried. "I love your room!"

Luisa came in, carrying the cactus plant from downstairs. "Would you be alright if we decorated this room a bit?"

"I would love to have that in my room," Mirabel said. "It will remind me of both of you."

Luisa placed the cactus plant in between the pair of chairs in the sitting area.

There was another sitting area in the space below Mirabel's loft bed. A round table with enough seating for everyone.

"This room is perfect," Mirabel said. "I don't know if I'll have the infinite space you girls have but..."

"I'm just glad you finally have a space of your own!" Isabela said. "Oh by the way! I figured out how to create some plants that can soundproof Dolores's room!"

"That should help her get some sleep!" Mirabel said, sighing in relief.

Mirabel walked further into the room and saw that the table area had a great balcony view of the mountains, the ones that split after the first big break.

Her sleeping area was really nice, too. The loft bed was tailored perfectly to her size. There was a small sewing kit with lots of colorful threads and needles. And a small notebook for her, sitting on the bed.

"Thank you, Casita," Mirabel said.

The most surprising part of the room, however, was the small alcove in the round table area. When Mirabel went down from her bed to call everyone to come check out her room, she saw that there was a small alcove shelf right where the balcony opened up. A small candle carved with butterflies stood there, lit up.

Mirabel took the candle out from the alcove and called out to her Abuela, who greeted her with a candle of her own.

"I heard the casita finally gifted you with your own room," Abuela said.

"I may not have the same powers as everyone else but..."

"I think I know what your Gift is, mija. You could always communicate with the casita, better than I could. And you knew how to fix the cracks. I think that when I pass on into the next world, you will have to guide the family in the future."

Mirabel smiled. "We all have a lot of healing to do. But we're off to a good start."

The casita clattered in agreement.

Over the next several days, the various members of the Madrigal family showed Mirabel their appreciation by adding something to her space, mementos that filled up the shelf and decorated the walls.

Alma gave Mirabel one of her shawls that now acted as a curtain that accented the balcony view. Mirabel's parents gave her a set of plates, painted with pictures of food and little bees on the edges. Antonio gave Mirabel a stuffed bird that complimented the leopard that she made for him. Dolores gave Mirabel a new set of earrings while Pepa and Felix gave Mirabel a pair of salt and pepper shakers. Camilo gave Mirabel a full-length mirror that she hung across from the plant and pot that her sisters gave her.

Finally, Bruno came in, accompanies by his rodent companions.

"Congratulations on finally getting your own room," he said. "I thought I'd just give you my, um, old record player. I still have my entertainment and now that my new room is close to the kitchen and I have a place to sit there..."

Mirabel hugged Bruno. "Thanks so much, Bruno."

"For what?"

"For helping me find what my Gift was." She showed Bruno the candle, sitting perfectly still in the alcove.

"Alma's shawl hangs around it," Mirabel said. "One day...I'll be leading the next generation, the next matriarch."

"If that's the case, I can definitely say with absolute certainty that the future is in good hands," Tio Bruno said.

"Let's get you something to eat," Mirabel said.

Mirabel and Bruno left her room, with the casita shutting the door behind them. Mirabel's door glowed gold, showing off the carving of her, surrounded by butterflies, holding a candle in her hands, just like Abuela.