Bruno's POV:
They want what now?! I can't do that! I'll just ruin her day....
"Kristi-I-I don't know...I mean, I don't think I can...I don't want to ruin your day by sounding stupid..."
"Papa, you would never sound stupid! And it wouldn't ever ruin my day. If anything, it'd make my day. It'd mean a lot to me if you would. But I knew you'd be nervous, so, if you don't want to do it or you don't think you can, you don't have to." Kristi said gently.
I looked down and sighed. Juan and Carmen, their song was called, 'Beautiful in White.' How Juan would've loved to be the one to have walked her down that aisle...Give that speech...Part of me wanted to do it, actually. The other part thinks I'm going crazy.
"I'll do it." I said quietly, giving a small smile.
"Oh, papa! Really??" I nodded as Kristi hugged me tight and squealed. "Oh, thank you, papa!"
"Gracias, Senor Bruno. It means a lot to the both of us." Andres smiled.
I smiled up at him. "You can call me by my name, kid. You're family."
"O-ok...Bruno..." he said, smiling. I smiled up at him.
That night, as I lay in my bed, trying to fall asleep, I found myself unable to. I was just imagining myself trying to do a speech at her wedding....And failing miserably. I kept imagining the worst! I couldn't help it! I was nervous and freaking out. I know it's not happening till next year, but it's fall already. It'll be here before I know it. Oh, I don't know if I can do this......
Kristi's POV:
Days passed, and soon, it was papa's birthday. His first birthday being back with his family and back in Encanto. I was excited, honestly. I was excited to give papa my gift. Well, it was kinda mine and Andres'. He helped me with it. You honestly wouldn't believe how much work this took. I needed to know a lot about my parents, and when I was little.
I smiled as I watched my tias open their gifts. Lastly, I gave papa my gift.
"Papa, it's your first real birthday in years and, I wanted to make today really special for you. Andres helped me make it. We worked really hard on it. I hope you like it.." I said, feeling a little anxious. Andres was standing next to me, holding my hand, as I gave the box to papa. He gave my hand a gentle squeeze. He smiled at me reassuringly. I smiled gratefully.
Papa smiled at me before opening the box. His eyes went wide in shock as he lifted a dark blue and green book out. "'A Book of Memories...?'" he read quietly. The cover of the book was half green, and half dark blue. Mine and papa's colors.
He opened the book and I watched with a small smile, tears forming in my eyes, as papa gazed at it, tears flowing freely down his cheeks. Tia Pepa and Tia Julietta both smiled sadly, looking at it from over his shoulder.
It started out with pictures of papa and my parents, Juan and Carmen. I had asked what they looked like so I could get the drawings right. They started out young, when they first met. It went through their lives to where papi and mama got married. I must say, even in a drawing, papa looks good in a suit. Different, but good.
It then went through their lives to when mama got pregnant. Then, had me. I drew pictures of all kinds of events that happened years ago. I got some info from dreams but most came from people I asked. I did include sad memories. I was nervous to do that, but, decided that the story wouldn't be complete without them.
I added my first year of life with my parents and papa. Then, I did add the accident and the funeral. I added every time papa came to visit me in the orphanage and, I added the day he adopted me.
It was a long book with a lot of drawings. I added my life growing up with papa and, some of my life when he left. Then, I added when he came back. I added in the fight then, I added when I talked to him and we made up. I added the memories we've made since he's been back. Taking walks with him, getting ice cream, helping him feel better about himself, and, the last drawing was papa and I hugging.
I watched as papa looked up at me in tears, a smile on his face. He set the book down beside him, stood up and hugged me tight. "Oh, my little girl....Thank you....I love it." I smiled at him, trying to hold back tears of my own, but failing.
Bruno's POV:
The more time passes, the more inspiration I get for the speech. That book, it was really something special. Something I will cherish for the rest of my life. Just like the drawing my daughter made me when she was little.
When we were finished opening presents, we went to the dining room. I sat between my sisters as mama brought in our cake.
"Go on, brother! You blow out the candles," Pepa told me, smiling.
"I think we should do it together...Like we used to do every year." I replied, giving a small smile.
"Alright then. On the count of three." Julietta smiled. "1.....2......3!" The three of us blew out the candles at the same time. Today has honestly been....amazing.....I remember how lonely birthdays got behind the walls...It was hard to forget it was my birthday when I shared it with two other people.
My life has become so much better than I remember....It's become better and definitely much different from living behind the walls. Didn't have much food or water back there....Didn't really have much of anything. But, hey! I survived! Sometimes it's hard to figure out how I kept from going insane. But...then I look around at my family and my daughter and I realize....they're the reason I didn't go insane.
I love my family and my daughter. I don't know what I would do without them.
YOU ARE READING
Bruno's Daughter
Fanfiction"Papa, where are you...? Why did you leave me? Papa, I love you!" the little girl cried into her father's ruana bitterly. When Kristi was just a year old, her parents were in a tragic accident. Kristi was an orphan. She was sent to the orphanage in...
