Disastrous night led to...

Chapter 7

Dolores sat on her hermanito's old bed in the nursery, sitting on her hands to stop herself from fidgeting with them. She and Isabela managed to coax Julieta and Pepa away to rest, Agustín and Félix taking them away for some air as Bruno was staying with Alma. Dolores took it among herself to stay with her primita.

She stared at Mirabel's unconscious form on the bed, watching her prima's chest rise and fall. She zoned out, listening to the steady heartbeat of Mirabel. It was something she always listened to on a normal day, it was always loud and clear for her, more than anyone elses. It was always the most calming and relaxing sound in the entire Encanto. But despite hearing it loud and clear (to her), she still strained her ears to hear it better until everything in the entire Encanto was tuned out and the only thing she could hear was the heartbeat. Something she should have heard loud and clear that night but she didn't! Why didn't she? Just why!

"Mi amor? Can I come in?"

A knock sounded at the door and Mariano's voice was echoing into the room. No response was given but the door of the nursery open, yet Dolores was still too zoned out to notice. Mariano walked in, coming back from going into town after lunch with Antonio and Parce to get a few things for Mirabel for when she wakes up. Mariano came in and saw his esposa on the bed, her eyes shining with unshed tears, hands now cradling her pregnant stomach. He could tell she was listening deeply in to something, due to her zoned out expression, staring at her prima. He soon realized she was straining to hear Mirabel's heartbeat, which was bad for Dolores (not that she cared right now).

At that moment, something warm started trickling down from Dolores's nose but she quickly wiped her nose with her fingers, blood smearing across them as more blood trickled down faster. She usually got headaches and a nosebleed when she focuses on one person for too long.

Mariano sprinted over to Dolores, who then noticed him, and opened a drawer in the bedside cabinet, taking out a handkerchief for Dolores. Casita brought him the chair from Mirabel's old desk for him to sit in front of Dolores, which he didn't do just yet and just cleaned Dolores's hand free of blood quickly before he gently tilted her head up and placed the handkerchief under her nose with light pressure.

He then sat down on the chair, Casita putting the chair more in front of Dolores. Dolores held the handkerchief to her nose, still looking at Mirabel and listening to her heartbeat. He smiled, softly, putting his hands on her cheeks, getting her to look at him. She reluctantly tore her eyes away from her prima and looked down at Mariano with her teary eyes.

"What are you straining to listen for, mi amor?" Mariano softly asked, even though he knew. Dolores shook her head, slightly, refusing to answer.

"Dolores. Por favor." Mariano pleaded, calmly yet warningly. Dolores sighed, knowing she can't keep anything from her esposo (and vice versa).

"Her heartbeat." Dolores answered, the tears rolling down, staining her cheeks.

"Dolores, mi amor. You know you can't do that. She's okay. She's going to be okay." Mariano comforted her, as she shook her head, ripping his hands off her cheeks.

"I didn't hear her! What do you not get? I didn't hear her that night, Mariano. Why would I get this gift if I couldn't hear my own family member in trouble?" Dolores whispered-shouted, looking right at him in the eye, anger pouring out. Luckily, her nosebleed has eventually stopped.

Mariano cleaned the excess blood that was just at the bottom of Dolores's nose before getting off the chair and sitting next to Dolores, hugging her close.

"I could have heard her. I've listened to her heartbeat for years. I know exactly what it sounds like. But I didn't hear her. I didn't hear him take her." Dolores murmured, clasping a fist at her skirt, as Mariano wrapped his arms tighter. He gently took off her headband, undid her bun and ran his fingers through her curls.