Crushing On A Madrigal | 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜

·14·

"Breaking Point"

"No, no, no!"

Pepa yelled, everyone's attention and concern turning to the walls that were cracking under the candle.

Without any hesitation, three of Alma Madrigal's grandchildren speed toward the candle in hopes of trying to save it as their house starts breaking and their miracle slowly fading.

Isabela and Camilo fell while trying to help Mirabel, luckily Casita still managed to catch them both before they got any serious injuries.

Knowing how unstable they are, Casita uses her tiles to make a wave, pushing the family out before more debris starts to fall on them.

"Mirabel!" Julita yelled, trying to fight off Casita's waves, reaching for her daughter, begging for her to leave it but she didn't.

Not soon after everyone else was finally pushed out of the house when it started to fall down. Their lively and colorful casa is broken into pieces.

The family was devastated. It wasn't just their candle, and it wasn't just their house. It was their home.

Dolores helped her Abuela sit down somewhere to calm herself before taking a look at the pile of rubble that used to be Casita. It was the first time in a long time that she didn't hear everything all at once.

She thought it would feel like a heavy burden being lifted away, and it did feel like that. She just couldn't help but feel like she had just lost a friend at the same time.

Everyone had been too occupied in those moments to notice Mirabel running away. A guilty and bitter feeling ached in her heart. She couldn't help but blame herself for what had happened. Now her family has no miracle, no home.

Mirabel runs into the woods, crying. Tears flooded her vision, causing her to trip and stumble while trying to go as far away from the village as possible, still managing to hear the fading sound of Julieta's voice calling out her name in worry.

It's been multiple hours since Mirabel ran away from her family, silently weeping by herself in the woods. After hearing the sound of a breaking twig and the distant rustling leaves, Mirabel turns in the direction of the source and sees Estella.

"Mirabel, wait," The girl hurriedly said in a pleading tone seeing how Mirabel tried running away from her. "You don't have to go through this alone," Estella said, looking at her with sympathetic eyes.

"I know," Mirabel replied with a sad, crooked smile.

The two stared at each other and understood what both wanted to say even without hearing the words. Estella nodded as she saw Mirabel's eyes – she wanted some time to think, some time to be alone. "Promise you'll come back?" She asked, worried about how heartbroken her friend is at this moment and how she needs to let her go to be alone with her thoughts along with the possibility of her being able to leave if she wanted to without even saying goodbye.

Mirabel knows how caring her friend is and how she worries a lot. Just by the look of her eyes, she was already able to distinguish the concern flooding those chocolate eyes. "I'll come back." She assured her, before quickly walking away from her without turning back. Knowing if she did, she would just end up breaking down in her best friend's arms, feeling weak and defeated.

She thought she didn't deserve the comfort of Estella's warm embrace, so she left her and went farther away until she reached a river. Fully knowing how Estella would let her be to find some time for herself as she wanted without telling anyone until she gets consumed by her worry because that's how much they knew and respect each other.

Mirabel's feet had gotten tired from the continuous walking and running she'd been putting an effort into to get as far away from home as possible. Far away to cause any more damage.

She looked down on the river's stream and saw her own reflection, all sad and alone, just like how she's always felt deep inside. But worse.

Tears formed in her eyes, as she angrily kept staring at her reflection, blaming herself for being selfish and stubborn, all for her family's attention. "Ugh," She grunted, stomping on the water. "Why couldn't you be satisfied with what you had?" She cried, circling around as she asked herself more questions, blaming everything ok herself.

Eventually, she started screaming, letting all her anger out before breaking down again. Mirabel sat on the ground, hugged her knees, and started to gently cradle her body a few times, trying to comfort herself while she wept near the flowing river.