The Forgotten...? ••• 𝐂.𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐥

(20) .𝐒he could be my...

Mirabel's POV:

Night came to quick, by the time supper had ended, everyone was off to do what they wanted. Pepa and Felix went to Tonito's room to tuck him in, Isabella was pulled away by Abuela which I thought was a bit odd but she is her favourite grandchild. Still...
Mamá and papá went to their room, walking up the stairs with Luisa and Tío Bruno was already running to his room, with his hoard of rats. Since all the dishes had been washed, dried and put in their cabinet-with the help of Casita- I went to my room, telling má I was having an early night when she rushed over and hugged me just after she gave Luisa one.
"Goodnight, sleep well, Mira. You looked exhausted today, make sure you get a full night's rest, alright." Mamá pushed, her motherly love was always a comfort especially when I was stressed but it was also very, very, sappy and cheesy.

I hugged her goodnight one more time, pá waved to me, whispering shouting "I love you" and "get a good night's rest", before going into their bedroom with má.

I couldn't help but sigh, just deflated as I pushed my head further into my pillow, hoping that it would somehow force me to relax and nod off, instantly. I had my clothes still on I didn't see the point in changing into my pyjamas, just for them to get ruined if anything unexplained or mysterious happened with one of the objects from Lucia's room. And that's when I went back to the conversation with Isa. How couldn't she know...?
It was getting boring hearing that constant question in your head, whenever I thought of Lucia my mind always rolled back to the how's, the why's... the who's...

Even though I had a nap earlier it felt like I hadn't been asleep in ages. My eyes were tingly and heavy, stinging when I tried to close my eyes just to rest my mind for a minute. All of the muscles felt overworked and heavy, so heavy. Being weighed down into the bed, but it wasn't even close to the thoughts weighing me down. It was as if my brain had somehow, physically manifested my thoughts, nightmares, questions, theories, anything... and draped it over me as a massive pull of gravity. Like I was forever stuck in this one position, not ever knowing, ever finding out, that it it would always be there that's a stupid question brought on by one person.

"Lucia..."

I completely forgot my frustration as I spoke her name. It's as if saying her name or even being near something that reminds me of her sends my mind reeling at everything she went through here. Why did she run away? Did she, or was she taken? Why would she be taken...?
If she's a Madrigal... Who are her parents?

Then it hit me, I felt sick and my eyes wouldn't stop staring wide-eyed at the ceiling. My body jolted upright and my knees curled back towards me. I gripped the bedding underneath me, as I just stared at the dimly lit, colourful drawing on the walls, my eyes unblinking.
How did I not think of this before!
"She could be my, sister... Or- or cousin or-! How did I not think about this." I repeated, tangling my fingers in my hair and violently jerking them away from my head.
"I could have a long lost sister..." I sighed, closing my eyes as I rubbed them. I just kept the bottom of my palms on my eyes, pressing them on trying to stop the burning sensation and the trickles that built up in my eyes.
"O-oh, god... Is she-?" I whispered, the lump in the back of my throat grew as I tried to suppress it but the more I kept talking, the more vulnerable I became. The more my thoughts became intrusive and unwelcomed, unforgiving. And all I could feel was this drowning sense of guilt, regret, fear. Despair.

How could I not remember a family member, a cousin... a sister. How could I be so oblivious to the fact that an entire person had disappeared?

But then I thought of Bruno. I didn't remember him per se, but I had heard things about him from the family. I was only five when he went missing and maybe not much older when Lucia herself ventured off by herself. But I could remember fragments from him. Not a whole bunch but some parts. Why couldn't I remember her? Or Isabella? Camilo? Dolores...?