Meant to Be

A Fresh New Start

The entire week passed by, and now it was the early morning of February 7th. Today, Mirabel was moving back to Butterfly Bay. While she'd sold a lot of stuff during the week, everything else she owned was packed in boxes in her car and a trailer attached to it. She drove to a tall building where her building management was located, and she went up to the 77th floor and returned her apartment key. Before Mirabel could leave the city, she stopped at a gas station to fill up her car because it was going to be a long drive. After that, Mirabel was ready to leave—she got into her car and left Vega City, driving all the way back to Butterfly Bay.

As Mirabel left, she listened to a CD with "I'm Movin' On" by Rascal Flatts, and the song described her almost perfectly. She'd slayed a few dragons and found her strength in her moments of weakness, and she was at peace with herself. Mirabel had lived in Vega City, and each face was different but also the same—they meant her no harm, but it was time she faced that they'd never accept her imperfections. Vega City only felt like home to her when her grandfather was alive, but she never did dream that this kind of home would end up where she didn't belong though Butterfly Bay felt more like home to her. Now Mirabel was moving on, and she could see that life had been patiently waiting for her. While she'd been able to care for herself for the past three years, she wished she'd left Vega City when her grandfather died. But there was nothing she could do about that. It was time to move on and get a fresh start in life.

Meanwhile, Enrique had hopped an airplane from Santa Luisa to Butterfly Bay. The plane ride was sure to take 9 to 10 hours, so he did all he could to entertain himself. He even watched a movie, Disney's Cinderella, for the time-being—living alone and working as an arson investigator was great, but he'd dreamed of falling in love with a certain woman and couldn't find anyone to love in Santa Luisa. He wondered if he'd find anyone to love in Butterfly Bay.

Mirabel had been driving for a long time, and she'd stopped to fill up her car again. After that, it had been another long drive, but it was all worth it—after driving for about 8 hours, she'd finally made it back to Butterfly Bay, and it was the first time since Lupe and Victor's wedding. Mirabel stopped at the nearest gas station to fill up one more time, and then she went on her way again. It was about 2:02 when Mirabel finally reached her parents' house, the house she'd lived in for the first 14 years of her life—and her parents were outside, waiting for her.

"¡Mami! ¡Papi!" Mirabel cried when she got out.

"Bienvenida, mija," Esteban beamed. He and Rosa hugged their daughter tightly—they were happy to have her home again.

"Ay, we missed you so much," Rosa smiled, tearing up.

"I missed you, too," Mirabel smiled.

"Well, what do you say we go inside and celebrate?" Esteban asked, taking one of his daughter's suitcases out of her car.

"Buena idea," Rosa agreed, taking another suitcase out.

Mirabel took the third and final suitcase out, and she and her parents entered the house when...

"Surprise! Welcome home, Mirabel!"

Mirabel was surprised—her parents had thrown her a surprise Welcome Home party, and all her Butterfly Bay friends had come over to join the celebration.

"¿Sorprendida, nena?" Esteban asked.

"Sor su puesto," Mirabel confirmed.

"Hey, Mirabel," Victor smiled.

"Hola, Victor," Mirabel beamed, hugging her brother-in-law. When she saw her sister, she was very happy. "¡Lupe!"

"Welcome home, mija," Lupe beamed, hugging her sister.