Finding Mirabel

First Aid

Waking up wasn't exactly the best experience in Mirabel's life. Her back was still aching from where the bear had struck her earlier. Her eyes were puffy from crying. She was so hungry. And everything ached because she had slept on some branch.

Looking down from her position on the tree she was able to see what remained of Chico. A few bits and pieces. The water tainted red. She wasn't going to start crying again.

She was hurt. She nearly died. She was going to starve. In conclusion, she was in way over her head. She couldn't do this. She needed to go back home. They might hate her but at least she'll survive.

She was just starting to get up and move her legs to climb out of the tree when she saw movement in the corner of her eyes. Her eyes snapped up and she froze. Trying to look at what could possibly be the bear coming back.

It was her Mamá. Her head peeking up over the edge of the waterfall, eyes falling on Chico's remains. She couldn't see Mirabel in the tree. Mirabel was just about to shout out for her mom when she saw something she's never going to forget.

Her mom's head disappeared as if she was falling. A hushed yelp. The rumble of stones and eventually the sound of a body hitting the ground.

Mirabel's blood was pounding in her ears, making her ignore the pain in her back as she practically flew out of the tree. Running for the edge of the waterfall. She hesitated to look down, but she had to. Leaning her upper body over the edge she saw her Mamá lying on the stones. Blood was pooling around her head, and she wasn't moving.

"Mamá!" Mirabel started climbing down. Mindful of not falling too. She wasn't going to be any help if she falls too. She got close to her mother and fell to her knees, putting her head into her lap. Feeling for a pulse on her neck. A few seconds passed without her feeling anything until her shaking hands finally felt a tiny pumping motion. She was relieved beyond imagination but that didn't mean her Mamá was going to be okay.

"Ay, dios mío. What do I do? Mamá? Please open your eyes." She didn't even notice that she started crying again.

What was she supposed to do? She couldn't carry her mom back on her own. Her back was seriously injured, and her mom is close to dying. They're hours away from home anyway, she didn't know if her mom is going to make it that far.

"Mami? Wake up, please. I need you to tell me what to do. Please! This is all my fault. Mami? Please, wake up!" She shook her lightly aware that she needed to be mindful of not causing more injuries.

"I'll be good! I promise! I'll do whatever you want me to do! Please, I'm begging you just open your eyes! You're scaring me, Mamá! I'm so scared you're not going to wake up. Please! I need you! I need you so much!"

Her mother is going to die here. She's going to bleed out and there's nothing she can do about it.

Blood continued pooling around Julieta's head and the constant stream didn't seem to cease. How could anyone have so much blood? Mirabel's hands were full of it from holding her mother's head in her lap. It was staining both of their dresses. Mixing with the other clear liquid that came out of her Mamá's apron.

Mirabel did a double-take wondering what her Mamá had in her apron. She rushed her hand into the pocket of the apron. Flinching as she felt glass cutting her. The liquid was sticky. It smelled sweet. Mirabel was barely able to pick it up over the iron smell of her mother bleeding out in front of her. Aguapanela, the emergency stock her mother always kept.

Trying to gather as much of it into her open palms as she could she scooped it up and brought it to her mother's lips. Was there even any air still flowing between her lips? Mirabel tried letting as much as possible trickle into her mother's slightly parted mouth and with bated breath, she waited. Sometimes it took a while for the healing to begin. Maybe this was one of those times.

Mirabel didn't dare to breathe. Nothing was changing. Why wasn't something changing? Why wasn't her mother getting up, smiling at her, and telling her that there is no need to worry?

Was she even breathing anymore? Mirabel bent down her head over her mother's mouth desperately waiting for even the slightest noise or feeling of air passing by her ear. Julieta had stopped breathing.

"No. No no no no no no no. Mamá! Open your eyes! Right now! I'm serious! You're scaring me! Mamí! Please! I need you! I'm begging you, Mamá! Please!" Mirabel lowered her head to her mother's chest and let gross sobs overcome her.

This was all her fault. She was the one her mother came to look for. If she hadn't run away, she would still be alive. If Mirabel would have never been born her whole family would've been happy. Her mother would still be alive.

Resting her head on her mom's chest all she could hear was the thumping of her heart, slow but steady. Together with the slow rise and fall of her chest.

Mirabel did another double-take. Pressing her head tightly to her mother's chest. And she was right. There it is. Her mother's chest moved up and down. Checking her breathing again she realized her mother was simply breathing through her nose, earlier she had just checked her mouth.

Looking at the wound on her head, Mirabel noticed it had closed. Her mom didn't wake up but at least she seemed to survive. Only asleep. Mirabel hasn't felt so relieved in her whole life. Thank God.

Now her focus turned towards the split mountain in the distance. She needed to get herself and her mother home.