Together Again

Chap 1

"Miguel! Where's Socorro!?" Luisa calls after her son who tunes his guitar next to his best friend Maria as she does vocals. Its the day before Dia De Los Muertos.
"I dont know mama. Check the ofrenda room." He calls after her looking to Maria.
"Ready for tomorrow?" He asks her.
"I'm nervous. Ever since three years ago I can feel Hector and everyone else. Just knowing that he's there and listening makes me nervous." She chuckles with a blush.
"That should make you want to try harder to impress him." Miguel laughs but then looks at her with a concerned expression. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?" She looks at him tiredly.
"I was just wondering. You did almost die three years ago." He puts his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm just tired. I should go lay down. I'll be fine in the morning." She stands up and hugs the smaller boy. "Keep working on the song."
"I will, go get some rest. See you tomorrow." After Maria leaves, Miguel stand and enters the ofrenda room where he sees his mother holding his three year old sister in front of the ofrenda.
"Gamma." Socorro reaches for the newest picture added to the table.
"That's right. Abuelita is with the rest of our family." Luisa says sadly but still with a smile.
"Mama? Are you doing okay?" Miguel asks.
"I can still hear her complaints. I just miss her." Luisa places Socorro on the ground and she rushes off to find her father.
"I do too, but shes with the rest of our family. She's being taken care of. I just came in hear to talk to you about Maria."
"Miguel, I told you already. Shes far to old for you."
"No! Shes like a sister to me and she already likes...someone." Miguel scratches his neck at the last part of the sentence. "I'm worried about her. Shes been straining her voice a lot lately and she's tired too often. I think somethings wrong."
"I'm sure shes fine. dont worry too much." Luisa pats her sons back and heads to the door. "Just make sure to watch her."

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The next morning miguel decides to let Maria sleep later than usual to regain some strength. The rest of the family set up for tonight. Miguel is restless thinking about his visiting family. The dead ones really. As he's making some food for the ofrenda, Maria walks grogilly into the kitchen.
"Why did you let me sleep so late?" She asks.
"I thought you'd need it." Miguel smiles and hands her a tamale.
"Thanks but you didn't need to." She happily accepts the food and eats it like she hasnt eaten in forever.
"Slow down. Why are you so hungry?" He asked with a laugh.
"I dont know, i just feel like I should eat as much as I can." She stuffs some cookies into her mouth.
"You're scaring me." Miguel backs up and looks at her with a serious face.
"Sorry." She looks down ashamed and walks into the ofrenda room. Miguel follows and watches her for any signs of possession.
She looks up to hectors photo and smiles. Miguel walks to her side and sighs in relief.
"I thought you mightve been possessed or something." He pats her back and looks up to hectors photo with her.
"Do you miss him?" He asks.
"All the time. I love him." She admits for the first time in front of someone else.
"I'm sure he loves you too." Miguel reasures her. Marias face blushes and turns serious.
"I can feel him here." that's the last thing she says before passing out and falling to the ground.