The Chameleon's Grin ll Camilo Madrigal

Chapter 17 : Diana

Diana's pov:

I blinked in shock.

What does Carmen mean by that?

"She..." Carmen tried to say, but a sob broke free from her mouth.

"She left us?"

Carmen hugged me tightly, pressing a kiss on my cheek. "No, Mamá loved us very much, she would have never left us, okay Diana? You need to know that she loved us will all of her heart."

I nodded, still not knowing where this was going.

"She... she passed away."

I tilted my head at her. "When will we see her again?"

Carmen was breaking down by now, her face crinkling like a piece of paper.

"Never... not in this life." Carmen's voice cracked, but she straightened her face out, and looked at me. "Diana, what do you think happens after we grow old?"

I thought about her question, but nothing came to mind. I shrugged my shoulders.

"Once we grow old, or too sick, we pass on. And we don't look back. That's where Papa went, and right now he and mamá have just reunited." She smiled slightly.

I only frowned. "What about us? Why couldn't we go?" I wanted to meet my papa.

"Because it's not our time yet." Carmen stroked my cheek, and then played with my hair. "All of us in town, we have a purpose to do something with our lives. Some of us do that, and a few don't. But for the ones who do, we do amazing things, even without magic. That's what we're gonna do before we grow old and pass on to Mamá and Papa. We have a role to serve, and a whole life to live. Unfortunately, some people don't get the chance to pursue what they were meant to do, because they pass on too early, and that's why we aren't with mamá and papa right now."

"They passed on too early." I finished for her.

"We'll see them some day, I promise." Carmen said, her tears slowing down.

It was just then when she brushed them away that I realized I was crying too. I won't see mamá for so long, what if she misses me, or worse, what if she forgets about me? That's a long time to wait for someone. I didn't even get to say goodbye to her. And what about home? Can Carmen really take care of us? Mamá always worried about money, how would we do it? Would we lose our house?

All of those thoughts were quickly driven off when my sister pulled me in for another hug though, because right now, in Carmen's arms, it felt like home.

Dolores' pov:

I was driven to tears with Carmen's delivery of their madre's passing.

She couldn't have put it better, but Diana's lack of understanding was heartbreaking.

I excused myself from the table to wait in my room, I had heard enough to respect Carmen even more than before.

Camilo followed me out, even though I made it very clear I wanted to have a moment to be in a quiet atmosphere.

I opened my door and, rolling my eyes, let my most annoying brother in.

"What'd she say that's making you cry so hard? I haven't seen you cry like this in, well, ever." He asked.

I sniffled. "Carmen is abnormally good at delivering bad news to Diana in the most simplified and respectful way possible. She does it with enough grace to make death sound peaceful to a six year old who doesn't understand the concept."

He processed that. "Is she breaking down right now?"

"She and Diana were having a moment last time I heard, but they could be talking right now for all I know. I want to give them privacy though."

Camilo nodded, and sat on the edge of my bed, spacing off. "So what'd you think about Abuela's idea?"

"I don't mind at all, and I could hear you're breathes quicken when she explained it, so I have the idea you're on board with it?" I gazed out the window, and I could hear his heart race.

"Yeah, it'd be cool, I guess." He tried and failed miserably to play it cool.

"Alright, I think you should leave, just in case Carmen needs you and Mirabel. I doubt she'll admit it, but she might be grateful for it nonetheless." I turned back to him, and he nodded, walking out of the door.

"Oh, and Camilo?"

"Hm?"

"Be careful about your interactions with Mamá, they may set off a trigger for Diana or Carmen." I advised.

"Got it." He said determinedly, and shut the door.