One of a Kind

A New Beginning

Once Upon a Time...

...in San Hugo, Magdalena, Colombia, lived a beautiful 17-year-old girl named Milagra Martinez. She lived with her parents, Violeta and Rodrigo. Violeta was a stay-at-home mother while Rodrigo was a cleft surgeon.

Milagra loved to paint, draw, ride horses, and play violin. She was the most dedicated artist in San Hugo, and the chief resident at the hospital where Rodrigo worked usually had her paint pictures to display in the children's wing.

When June 2022 came around, Rodrigo learned that he was being transferred to work at a hospital in Rosewood City, New Mexico, and that meant the family had to move there. The family filed for asylum and got their passports, and when August came around, they left Colombia.

It was about a week before Milagra would return to school, and she wasn't sure what to expect when she arrived in the United States. The family was on the plane to Rosewood City, and the flight would take about nine to ten hours. It'd been about an hour and 45 minutes since the plane took off, and Milagra was coloring in a drawing she did in a sketchbook. She didn't know what to expect when she entered the new country, let alone her new school. Rodrigo turned to his daughter and saw the look on her face.

"A little tired, mija?" Rodrigo asked.

"Ay, more like bien nerviosa," Milagra admitted. "Papi, can I do homeschool this school year, por favor?"

"¿Por qué? ¿Qué te pasa, Milagra?" Violeta asked.

"I don't want to face any kids in public school," Milagra replied. "You know I've been bullied a lot for a variety of reasons, from being an early bloomer to wearing glasses to the scar on my belly. I'm not taking any chances of letting that happen again."

"It's okay, mija," Violeta said. "Remember, if the kids make fun of you for any reason, it's their problem, not yours."

"And don't be afraid to stand up to them or tell an adult at school," Rodrigo chimed in. "Remember, nobody is perfect, and that's okay. You're an imperfect beauty, and looks don't always matter."

"Gracias, Papi," Milagra smiled.

"Well, the flight is sure to last about 8 hours and 15 minutes, so how about a movie?" Violeta asked.

"Okay," Milagra said, touching the movie screen in front of her. She looked through the options. "Oh, the 2021 version of Tom and Jerry: The Movie? No, gracias. Ay, the 2017 version of Beauty and the Beast? Lo pasaré. Ugh, Space Jam: A New Legacy? Blah!" Then she found a movie that really caught her attention. "Encanto? Okay, I'll go for it."

Milagra selected that movie, put on a pair of headphones, and enjoyed the show. After that, she continued to entertain herself for a few hours until she fell asleep. Hours later, Milagra was still asleep until she heard her father's voice.

"Milagra, wake up—we're about to land," Rodrigo said.

"Okay," Milagra yawned.

Soon enough, the plane landed, and once it was safe, everyone got off. Milagra couldn't believe she was in a whole new country. She didn't know what to expect. Once the family had hailed a taxi, they rode off to their new house.

Soon enough, the family made it to their new home. The house was in a beautiful color scheme, and it certainly seemed worth painting a picture of. The family's moving boxes were inside, and after being on the plane for so long, they decided to start unpacking to get their bodies working and their blood flowing.

Milagra went up to her new attic bedroom and started arranging her things. Once that was done, Violeta came up to see her.

"Wow, mija, you did a great job," Violeta smiled. "Well, if you're already done with your new bedroom, come with me, and I'll show you something."

Milagra went with her mother downstairs, and Violeta showed her daughter a big spacious room.

"Wow, this is beautiful," Milagra gaped.

"How would you like this to be your new art studio?" Violeta asked.

"Oh, I'd love that—gracias," Milagra smiled.

Rodrigo came in with a wad of cash, which he gave to his daughter. "Here's the money for your new art supplies," he smiled. "Once we find a great art store, we'll go down there and order your supplies, and you can even paint murals on the walls."

"And don't thank us yet," Violeta said. "We also have enough money for you to throw a party and invite your classmates over."

"Wow, I love that—gracias," Milagra smiled, hugging her parents. She really looked forward to everything.