Fly High, Butterfly

Chapter Twelve

Mirabel vaguely remembers a day she got the glasses for the first time. She picked out a frame that had a pair of the round, green rim. It was probably because she liked the green the most then. But she can't remember why she chose that frame, despite she still wearing that glasses until now as fifteen.

Anyway, she was very excited to get her own glasses. When she wore the glasses, she could see the birds perched on top of the roof so clearly. And she didn't need to take a book from the bookshelf to check the title of that book.

And there's one more thing she can remember. She visited Bruno's tower that day. She thinks she said something to her tío. She doesn't remember exactly what she said.

It's not the point now, after all. Mirabel has lost her glasses. She had put them by her bedside before she went to bed last night. But when she got up this morning, her glasses were nowhere to be seen. She looked through her room to find her glasses, but couldn't find them. She goes down to the dining room for breakfast without her glasses.

"Buenos días, mamá." Mirabel says. Her mother is stirring the pot.

"Buenos días, Mirabel. Why aren't you wearing your glasses?" She says, looking at her daughter.

"I've lost my glasses." She answers, squinting. She has a very blurry vision, so she hardly recognizes her mother's face.

"Have you had a good look for them?" Julieta turns to the pot and says.

"I searched every inch of my room!" She answers with a sigh.

The family thronged into the dining room, and they keep asking why she isn't wearing her glasses. By the time the eleventh person gets to the dining room, She is already fed up with answering them.

Just before the family starts to eat, they realize that they're one short.

"Where's Bruno?"

-

Ever since Bruno came back to the family, they are trying not to push him too far. Adults don't let slip even one word about it, but Mirabel feels like they know something.

From what she saw, her tío Bruno has some strange habits. He sometimes spread salt behind his back or crosses his fingers and holds his breath every time he passes the doorway. He also stares into the air for tens of seconds, several times a day.

She was a little flustered when she saw him had an episode for the first time. It was only two days after returning Casita. She was in the living room with her mother and tío Bruno. Her mother was reading a book sitting in an armchair, Mirabel and her tío were talking about her new embroidery work sitting on the couch.

When she was about to tell her plan to make a new cloth for her cousin, he abruptly stopped talking. He paused and gazed into space with an absent expression.

"Tío Bruno?" She called him, but he didn't respond. He seems to hear nothing. He was just fiddling with the hem of his ruana with his fingers.

"mamá?" She called her mother, scared. "Something is wrong with tío Bruno."

"Dios mío," Her mother sprang up from a seat and approached them. Then she supported his back with her hand and said. "It's alright, Mirabel. It's alright."

"What's going on?" Mirabel asked in a whisper.

"Mirabel, it's just- it's just an episode. Kind of fit. He'll be alright. It will subside soon. Just wait for a minute." Her mother said. Her voice was very calm. As she said, he got back himself together after only a minute or so. He seemed quite confused, but he was all right. He looked at her sister and niece for a moment.

"I'm sorry," He breathes. "I'm so sorry that I frightened you."

"No, I'm not," Mirabel said, shaking her head. "Just worried about you. You don't need to be sorry."

After that, Bruno sat back on the couch and tried to go ahead talking with Mirabel. She bothered not to pay attention to what just happened.

From that day to this, she witnessed his episodes many times. He has an episode several times a day. At first, she thought it was about eight times or so. But on second thoughts, maybe it's more often than she assumed. During the episode, he can't see or hear anything as well as can't do anything. He can't even remember what happened.

So, she's worried so much about her tío. His episodes seem too dangerous. The episode isn't a life-threatening symptom in itself, but that is enough to put his life in danger. What if he has an episode while going up or down the stairs? How about when he crosses the stepping stone? What if he suddenly starts having an episode when wild animals such as anacondas, alligators, and jaguars appear in front of him? She can't help thinking about them.

In some way, it's natural for her to be concerned about him. He is her tío. Needless to say, she loves him as a family. He even left his family and lived within the wall alone to protect her. For ten years. Even if he doesn't have that kind of condition, he is still worryingly small and thin. How could she not worry about him?

It worries not only Mirabel but the entire family that he doesn't show up at the dining room. But he tends to skip meals often, especially breakfast, and the family knows he's stressed out by being forced to join the table. He has lived alone for a long time, and now he is still adjusting to living with his family little by little.

The whole family agrees, and Mirabel goes upstairs.

"Tío Bruno, it's time to breakfast," Mirabel calls, knocking gently on the door. "Are you awake?"

"Y- yes, Mirabel. I'm up," He answers, "But I'm not hungry right now."

"Alright, It doesn't matter, you know. You can come down anytime if you'd like." She says, kindly. Anyway, he seems to be fine, so she's relieved. "Ok, then, I'm going. Can I get you something to drink, tío?

"No thanks, I, I mean- I will join you later. In a few minutes." He says, sheepishly.

"Ok, please hurry up. I'm starving," she says, titteringly.

After a short while, he pops his head out of the door. "Buenos días, mi sobrina." He says, smiling.

"Buenos días, tío Bruno," She greets. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, to be sure. I'm alright," He says. "I'm so sorry to keep you waiting."

"Oh, don't feel sorry." She smiles. Then they started toward the dining room to have breakfast. The family has a warm greeting for him. He takes his place at the breakfast table, and then Mirabel passes a glass of water.

"Gracias." He says, being handed a glass. Mirabel stares at her tío, but he doesn't look at her. Although she can't see his face clearly, he seems stiff, even awkward.

It was then that she takes a hint. He didn't ask her why she isn't wearing her glasses.