𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘶 | 𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗹

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 7

Encanto, Colombia
1949

Everyone was already outside trying to understand what Mirabel had been on about before Elena could get there, the air was full of tension and disappointment as everyone stared at Mirabel with Alma shaking her head at her. "There is nothing to worry about everyone, the magic is as strong as ever! And the drinks! Now let's continue the celebration!" She announced to the crowd as everyone pooled back into Antonio's new room, a defeated Mirabel standing in shock at the bottom of the stairs.

"Mirabel?" Elena walked down to her niece as Julieta joined her and looked at the fresh cut on her hand. "Come amor, let's get you cleaned up."

•
•
•

Julieta flipped a pastry as Elena comforted a sulking Mirabel who was going on and on about what she saw. "I would never ruin Antonio's night, is that what you think?" She sighed as her mother turned over to her. "What I think is that today was hard for you..." she stated as Mirabel just grunted. "I wish you could see yourself the way we do," Julieta went on as she gave her daughter a arepa con queso. "You are perfect just like this" Elena added as she hugged her niece. "Just as special as anyone else in this family." Julieta smiled.

"Mhm, mama just healed my hand with arepa con queso" the teen dragged on as she rolled her eyes and took another bite, Julieta grabbing her daughters hand and holding it to her face. "I healed your hand with my love for my daughter!" She went on as she began to cuddle up to her daughter, purposefully trying to annoy her as Elena laughed, a poor Mirabel trying to get out of her mothers embarrassing grasp. After she did, she backed away and and continued on about the incident.

"I know what I saw." Both women looked at each other and sighed. "You know my brother, Bruno, lost his way in this family...." She hesitated a bit as Elena turned her head away, still quite sensitive to that name. Julieta went on though "I don't want the same for you...now, go get some sleep. You'll feel better tomorrow." She hugged her daughter as she went up to her room. Julieta turned to her best friend who still had her face hidden. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up his name...". "You don't need to apologize, i should be use to hearing it by now anyways."

"That still doesn't mean it was right of me to do. I understand you're affected by it more then anyone.."

"He was your brother, Julieta. You should be affected by it just as much as I am. Pepa too. I just don't get how you both can act as if he never existed to begin with. I can't tell if that makes you stronger or less human...". Julieta sighed as Elena continued to stare in the opposite direction, too scared that if she did turn to look at her best friend, she would lose to the battle of holding back tears. There was silence whilst both women thought of something to say.

"It's not easy, I do miss him everyday. It's complicated. He left this family and I don't know why. I wish I did, I really do so I..no, we, could've helped him. I wish he gave us that chance before he left..." Julieta put her hand over her mouth as her voice cracked. It wasn't easy for any of them, especially the eldest triplet, loosing her own sibling. "I'm sorry..." Elena apologized as she stood up and hugged Julieta. "It was out of place for me to talk to you like that, you're still grieving too" Julieta hugged her back tightly, both woman finally giving into their tears as they silently cried into one another's shoulder.

If only Bruno knew how much they missed him.

They pulled back from the hug, smiling and sniffling as they wiped their tears away. "It's late, I think I'll head to bed now." Elena wiped her wet and tired eyes as Julieta smiled again, teary eyed, and nodded. "Goodnight mi amiga, I'll see you in the morning". Julieta waved to her as Elena headed for the stairs and up to her room way on the far end of the casita, almost near his room. She looked up to his door as she walked by and felt her heart shred. She looked away and continued to her room, opening and closing the door softly as she lay back down and closed her eyes. She fell asleep quickly but not without consequence.

...

"Stay still, querida! I know it's sucks, but you asked to be in the painting!" Elena laughed as a child giggled and tried her best to stay still. It was midday and the town square was busy as usual. However, Elena found it perfect to do her work and took inspiration from the children playing around as one of them asked if she could be in her work. She loved making the towns people smile and admire her hard work, it just made her feel warm on the inside that, even without a gift, she could lighten someone's day. Just as the tip of her brush hit the canvas, her vision was covered as she heard a child laugh and a man hush them. Elena smiled as she felt the cool touch of a ring on her closed eyelid and pondered for a moment. "Hmm, I wonder who this could be...." She paused as she could just hear the man's grin appear on his perfect face. "Is that my wonderful husband, Bruno?" She asked as her vision came back as he bent down to kiss her cheek.

"Good job, mi vida." He smiled as the child made a face of disgust, both the couple letting out a small laugh before looking at each other. "How's it coming along?".

"It's coming along wonderfully! I'm very happy I have a great assistant helping me out!" She looked over to the little girl playing as she gave the older woman a big smile and a thumbs up. Bruno smiled at the little girl then to his wife. "She's adorable." He stated as Elena nodded in agreement. "She is, isn't she? Oh, I cannot wait for Julieta and Pepa to have their little ones!" She sighed happily, excited to become an aunt as Bruno shrugged. "Or have our own..." he trailed on as Elena paused and blushed.

Of course she wanted her own children, especially a daughter with him, but that doesn't mean whenever she did hear the topic, she didn't silently freak out and become flustered. Bruno grinned and bent down, resting his hand on her thigh as he stared up into her eyes. "No rush, amor. I'm willing to wait for you for as long as it takes." He stood back up and kissed her lips before walking off to continue whatever he had been doing before. She sat there in shock as the child called out to her.

"Are you okay, señora?"

•
•
•

It was late evening and the Madrigal family was now in there rooms, tired and relaxed. Elena sat on the edge of her side of the bed in the dark room as Bruno laid next to her. She was deep in thought before she felt an arm slither around her waist, followed by a raspy voice. "Something bothering you, mi vida?". She sighed and rubbed her temple as she whispered out into the dark "what you said earlier....I can't get that out of my head...". He sat up beside her and wrapped his around her shoulders, pulling an anxiety filled Elena close to his chest.

"I'm sorry i scared you like that, mi amor. I was only joking but I understand now that that may have put a lot of pressure on you" he kissed the top of her head as she snuggled into him, staring off into the darkness.

"I want to, Bruno. I just...I worry about the future..." she admitted, which sounded extremely silly knowing who she married. "Whatever happens, I'll always be by your side, I'll never leave you, I promise". Hearing those words, a wave of confidence surged through her body as she stood up on her knees on the bed and pushed him down slightly, breathing in and breathing out it shakily.

"I'm ready."

...

She woke up, the sun just barely over the horizon. Her body was shaking as she sat up in the sheets of her bed and crossed her legs, holding her head in her hands as she breathed heavily and tears threatened her eyes. It hurt, it hurt so much but she has to control it. Hide it. God, anything. She couldn't show these feelings, it was forbidden. His name was forbidden here.

She managed to calm down and wipe her eyes as she got up from the bed, the sun shining in from her window into her depressed room.

word count: 1504