The Lost Miracle

Chapter 29: Una oruga y una oruguita

Alma stomped through the wet grass towards the river bank. She spoke to every member of her family- even Alejandro. She knew now that Mirabel ran away to another town and fell in love. Gracias Alejandro. She also now knows that Mirabel was guilted into coming back to the Encanto, thank you Luisa. And she at last knew that all those years ago, Mirabel had simply run to the river. Thank you, Brunito, she thought.

Her smooth wooden cane stabbed the moist dirt with each step. Alma had one thought in mind: Mirabel. She thought of her with each step. She thought of her when she almost slipped from the wetness on the blades of grass beneath her. She thought of her when she saw a pink strand of thread laying on a leaf at the edge of the forest. She looked down at the leaf by her knee. Alma leaned down and picked it up, wedging it between her middle finger and her thumb. The familiar pink meant one thing. Mirabel.

•••

Mirabel sat at the edge of the riverbank. She stared at the opposing end of the river, remembering that fateful night ten years ago. The light breeze blew through her curls. She plucked a strand of hair from her eyes and thought of Osvaldo's words. Who knew such a stupid man could have moments of wisdom?

His words were wise, and could be summed up into something much simpler. Take time to think. Mirabel did just that. It had been what felt like an hour since she had spoken to Isabela. Her legs dangled from the rocky bank and the tips of her sandals created ripples into the water. Mirabel loved her family with the Salazars. She was only a month away from her wedding. But when Andro had proposed, she had a small thought in her mind that she brushed away.

She wanted her familia, the Madrigals, at her wedding. She wanted her parents to walk her down the aisle. She wanted to watch her primos tear up as she said her vows. She wanted her hermanas to help her get dressed before the ceremony. She wanted her tia and tios to reluctantly help her as she sewed her dress. She even wanted abuela there. She hadn't quite figured out her role, but it would be of semi-importance. She peeled off her sandals and dipped her toes into the cool water. She shut her eyes and dipped her head backwards, keeping them closed as she kicked the water of the river forward in little splashes. She listened to the songs of the forest. The buzz of the bees. The caws of the birds. The Mirabel? of Abuela. Wait, what? She opened her eyes and saw her abuela. She didn't change. After all these years, nothing changed. Her hair remained the same, her face gained more wrinkles than what she already had. It was as if nothing changed at all.

"Mirabel?" Abuela asked. Mirabel rapidly stood up, grabbing her glasses right after they fell off her face.

"Abuel- Abuela!" She was out of breath by the time she straightened her spine. She tried to smile- she truly did try, but she couldn't. Her mouth remained open, her teeth slightly agape as her lips contorted into different shapes. "I-I" Mirabel was interrupted from her thoughtless stutter when her grandmother gave her a hug. Alma wrapped her arms around her, tying her up with her limbs. She stood solid on the ground, her shoes planted comfortably in front of Mirabel's bare feet.

"Mirabel..." Abuela Alma began. "I'm so sorry." She squeezed tighter. "Our family was given a miracle... a second chance. I held on so tight to it, I lost sight of who our miracle was for. I'm s-so sorry, Mirabel." Mirabel felt a tear fall on her from Abuela. She pushed herself away from the elder, attempting to wipe the water from her eyes, only for Alma to push her hand away. "Please d-don't." She said plainly, choke heard in her voice. "You shouldn't be comforting me..." Mirabel hugged her Abuela and whispered to her.

"You're forgiven, Abuela." Mirabel said. They gazed into each other's eyes. Two generations apart and yet, Mirabel inherited the eyes of her Abuela. Cups of tea with a spoonful of sweet honey. Abuela caressed Mirabel's cheek and broke the silence.

"When..." she began with a smile. "When I asked my Pedro for help... Mirabel, he sent me you..." It was Mirabel's turn to cry. Abuela thumbed away the droplets peeking out from the corners of her eyes. They hugged again, Abuela not minding the wetness of her nietas tears staining her clothes.

After what felt like an eternity, Mirabel and Abuela forced themselves away from each other. Mirabel tearfully looked at her smiling Abuela and heard the voice of the love of her life.

"MIRA!"