Chapter Text
“¡La familia Madrigal!”
The moment the camera flashes, time seems to slow down. She watches as her family celebrates the birth of a new gift, bestowed upon her dear Toñito. The gift to speak with animals, and a room that is a huge rainforest with all the animal friends one could have.
She is content.
She is happy that Toñito is not cursed like her. She is relieved that he has a gift, and will not have to suffer the same fate as herself. She is happy for him.
Even when her own heart is cracking.
A small, traitorous part of her wanted Toñito to be like her, that they would always be together in the nursery, sharing each other’s dire fate and finding comfort in each other.
But it was not to be.
Her Toñito is now shining brightly, adding to the perfect constellation that is the Madrigal family. Now, she is pushed further into the darkness, despite her attempts to be recognised and worthy of being a part of the family too.
It is all in vain, and the confirmation that she needed.
Without a word and anyone noticing, the bespectacled girl known as Mirabel Madrigal leaves her primo’s new room, and quietly retreats to the nursery.
Sitting on her bed is her trusty bag, packed with food and clothes. In the lead up to Toñito’s ceremony, she had been secretly packing, in the event that he would get a gift and would no longer need her. She had told herself, if that happens, she would leave the Encanto. After all, up until this point, the only reason for her to stick around was to take care of Toñito, because Tía Pepa and Tío Félix were too busy with their chores around the town. But with all the animal friends he could ever want, Toñito did not need her anymore.
There is no reason for her to stay.
Mirabel picks up her bag, and slings it over her shoulders. She sits down on her desk, where a few sheets of paper, a pen and an inkpot sit patiently, waiting to be used. Mirabel fills the pen with ink, and begins writing a letter.
Dear everyone,
This is my final letter to you, possibly for the foreseeable future.
I am leaving Casita and the Encanto. It is clear that I am not wanted or needed here. I am merely Mirabel Ordinaria, a nuisance who cannot do anything right and only gets in the way. Things will run more smoothly without me around to mess anything up.
Mamá, Papá, I am so sorry. I am sorry for being the screw-up. I wish I could be of use like Luisa and Isabela. But it is better if I leave. I love you both, and please, take care of yourselves.
Toñito, I will never forget the time we spent together in the nursery. Those were the best years of my life. I am really glad that I had the honour of raising you. You will always be my best friend, and I wish you all the best with your new gift. Make friends with all of your animal companions for me, alright?
To the rest of you, there is not much else to say. I wish you all the best, and may the family continue to grow and become even brighter than before. Be happy, for I will not be around to cause trouble for you anymore.
Now, I must get going. I love you all, and maybe, in the future, our paths will cross once more.
Goodbye.
Mirabel
Making sure the ink is dry, Mirabel puts the letter into an empty envelope, and places it on her bed. With one last look around the nursery, she turns on her heel and leaves it for the last time.
She can still hear the party going on inside Antonio’s new room. Good, they will not discover her leaving until she has long gone.
Mirabel descends the stairs towards the courtyard. She takes one last look at the glowing Candle, perched on Abuela’s windowsill. She ignores the dark voice in her head whispering to her, tempting her to blow out the flame or destroy the Candle. She could never do such horrible things to her family, even though they were not the best towards her ever since her failed ceremony ten years prior. Everyone deserves their gifts, she is just the cursed one who deserves to disappear completely.
Mirabel sighs, “Adiós, Casita.”
The magical house does not respond.
Mirabel turns on her heel and makes her way towards the front door. She had just placed her hand on the doorknob when…
“Mirabel?”
She turns around.
“Dolores.”
The soft-spoken young woman looks at her, confused, “Where are you going?”
“I’m leaving, Dolores,” Mirabel replies bluntly, “For a very long time. I don’t know if or when I will come back.”
Shock and realisation flashes across Dolores’ face, before understanding quickly takes over.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, “I’m sorry that it had to come to this. And...” her lips quiver, "I'm sorry for my part in driving you away."
“I don’t blame you, Dolores,” Mirabel replies, hoping to alleviate the guilty look on her prima’s face, “I just don’t deserve to be here with the rest of the family. I don’t have a gift, I am of no use to the family or the Encanto. Abuela and Isabela can’t stand the sight of me. And everyone will be better off when I’m gone.”
Dolores looks like she wanted to protest, but thought otherwise, “I will never forget you, Mirabel. I still remember, when we were younger, when my ears became too sensitive, and you gave me a pair of earmuffs to lessen the noise. I still have them, you know? I wear them to sleep all the time. I will keep it to remember you by.”
Mirabel smiles, crossing the distance to hug Dolores, which she reciprocates, “I will never forget you too, Dolores. Even though we weren’t the closest, you still tried where you can, especially when my hermanas dropped the ball. Thank you, I really mean it.”
The two primas separate. “Take care of yourself, alright?”
Mirabel nods, “I will. Goodbye for now.”
“Goodbye, Mirabel.”
With a parting smile, Mirabel turns on her heel and heads to the front door. Dolores watches as she steps outside and closes the door behind her with a soft click.
A sad, wistful look takes over Dolores’ features. She knows that all hell will break loose come morning.
But for now, she wishes her prima a safe journey, and goes upstairs to the painting next to her own room. Making sure that no one is around, Dolores pulls the painting open, revealing a hole in the wall that leads to a hidden passage. She climbs in and closes the painting behind her.
She needs to tell a certain missing tío about this.
To Be Continued.