Through Your Eyes || Camilo Madrigal

---- • ¤《 Chapter 1 》¤ • ----

The little boy held the candle between his tiny hands, the warmth of the never-ceasing flame easing down its decorated waxen sides. He barely heard the words that were spoken to him as the magic flame flickered in his eyes. Nodding his head in solemn affirmation to impossible promises for one so young, he reached out a hand to the doorknob of the glowing gateway. His entire body surged with eagerness and yet, he still hesitated just enough to glance back at the crowd below, his hazel eyes searching for the familiar face he knew so well. He found her below, the excited anticipation on her face matching his own. Her eyes met his through the large green glasses balanced on her face. A nod. That was all he needed to close the stretch between his palm and the golden knob of the door.

The lights swirled as he stood back in wonder. An invisible pencil, drawing in lengths of golden glow, etched his figure on the magic wood. Spelling out his name, one cursive letter at a time: Camilo. The magic settled with a final flash of light. Camilo's eyes looked in awe at the identity forged before him. He reached out his hand once again toward the wooden panel of the door, it's surface warmly welcoming him to his new life.

He felt a pulse through his body. A flickering sensation crept up his spine. With a sudden jolt his body transformed itself, fueled by his strongest memories. Mirabel. Mamá. Tía Julieta. Dolores. Papá. Shifting through every form his mind could think of, Camilo barely had time to breathe. Finally, his body settled and he was left staring at his hands, a blank expression on his face. Suddenly, his eyes lit up at the realization of what he could do. The rest of his face followed until he was glowing as brightly as the door.

He looked toward Abuela and the smile faded fast from his face. Her eyes met his before her head turned towards the door, her expression illuminated by the once warm glow. It wasn't fear or disappointment or even worry, but somehow a mixture of the three that he saw in her eyes. He looked past her to his parents, but their faces presented mere shock, though their eyes were at least a little kinder. Abuela pulled her attention away from the door and back to young Camilo, whose own eyes now reflected back confused worry, like a child that had broken a plate. Her expression quickly corrected as she turned toward the crowd of townsfolk below the balcony.

"We have a new gift!" Words that Camilo never truly understood.

---- • ¤《 ~ 🔅 ~ 》¤ • ----

A month and a half later it was Camilo's turn to watch his beloved cousin receive her gift. They had grown up together, spending their days playing in the nursery, talking about the incredible gifts they might acquire.

Camilo stood at the front of the crowd, at the very foot of the curving stairs which led to the expectant door waiting for Mirabel to grasp its golden doorknob. His mother's hands on his shoulders kept him from running up the stairs to stand next to Mirabel as she held the candle in her own tiny hands. The empty words flew beyond him once again as his eyes filled with eager anticipation for his cousin. But when her hand touched the doorknob the bright gateway faded away as though it had never held all the promises it just displayed.

Camilo felt the crowd press in on him as people pushed forward to understand what had just befallen la casa Madrigal. Camilo tried to press through the suffocating bodies, attempting to find a way to Mirabel. His mother's comforting hands were no longer on his shoulders. He could hear Mirabel's crying mixed with more useless words from Abuela. The soft thundering of the crowd choked his ears as the bodies of many concerned townsfolk collapsed in on him. He wasn't even aware of the tears on his face and his own voice crying out to Mirabel among the hushed babbling of the many people.