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02/28/2022 08:48 PM
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I'm Engaged.
I'm Engaged By: Healer // 550989 Julieta paced the kitchen, back and forth, back and forth. She had to do it tonight, she just had to. It had been nearly three months since her sister Pepa's wedding, the hype had died down some. Julieta now felt comfortable telling her mother her news. "Okay.. you just... tell her!" She said to herself, trying to build herself up.
Looking up as her mother Alma entered the kitchen, Alma frowned and looked to Julieta. "Why haven't you started making dinner? The Romero's will be here soon." Julieta looked at her mother somewhat confused. "Wait- .. why?" Alma gave a smile as she touched Julieta's cheek. "Because I've made such a match for you. Their eldest son Nicolás wants to meet you. He is very impressed with you. It would be so good for both of our families."
Julieta stared at Alma in disbelief for a few moments before frowning. "What? But.. I'm with Agustín!" She protested, Alma sighed. "Yes I know you and Agustín are fond of each other but you must think of your future, the family. Agustín isn't good for either you or the family. This will be better." Alma assured her. Julieta felt as though her world was spinning out of control.
"Mamá I don't love Nicolás Romero. I don't even like him! He's a brute!" Alma frowned "you haven't given him a chance Julieta. And love will come after your marriage." Julieta looked to Alma horrified. After marriage?! She didn't want to marry anyone but Agustín. She stood there in shock as Alma began rattling off what she should prepare for dinner.
Finally, Julieta just said it. "Mamá... I'm engaged.." Alma didn't even look up, continuing to talk about dinner. "Mamá!" Julieta said more urgently. "I am already engaged." Alma looked to her and scoffed "to what?" Julieta frowned getting irritated with her mother's disconnect from what she was saying. "Not to a what to a who! Agustín! He has asked me to marry him and I have accepted!"
Alma now was the one to stare at Julieta for a moment before shaking her head. "No. I will not allow it. You will not marry Agustín Rojas." Julieta frowned "but you'd rather me marry someone I don't even like? I... I was not asking for your permiso Mamá. I will marry Agustín. You will decide if it is in here in our Encanto.. or out there... in the world. Because I will leave. Agustín will pack his mother and I up and we will all leave Encanto."
Julieta frowned "I have always done everything you've expected of me. But this is my time to choose. I love Agustín. I want to be his esposa.. and I will not marry anyone else." She said before backing away, not waiting for any more from Alma. Julieta rushed from the kitchen, out the back door and away, heading for Agustín's home. She could hear Alma calling after her but she didn't care.
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02/28/2022 07:23 PM
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Stricken
Stricken By: Healer // 550989 Julieta stood in her usual place in the kitchen cooking dinner. Her young daughters Isabela and Luisa were with her. They often liked to sit with Julieta while she worked and talk and just keep her company. Isabela was only five years old, Luisa was only three so the conversations were never anything too serious. Mostly Isabela telling Julieta about her day, how excited she was using her gift all over town. Luisa babbling along, mostly talking about her toys.
No matter what the topic of the conversation Julieta always listened intently, wanting her daughters to see her interest in them, even at this young age. But tonight Julieta couldn't truly focus on anything. Working the kitchen, so close to the stove, Julieta was used to being hot all the time. But this heat felt different. Even when she moved to the back door to allow a breeze to cool her it just didn't help. She felt like she was on fire inside.
Using her arm she wiped the sweat from her forehead, everything around her was beginning to fade some. The sounds of her girls were becoming distorted, she could somewhat smell the burnt smell of the food she was cooking. That was when Isabela realized something was wrong with her mother, Julieta never burnt food.
"Mamá?" Isabela said and watched as Julieta clung to the counter to keep herself standing. "Get your father.. now..." she said before collapsing. Both girls screamed in fear, Isabela ran from the kitchen to find her father, to find anyone to help. Little Luisa approached Julieta and shook her trying to wake her. "Mamá? Mamá.." she began to cry when Julieta wouldn't answer her.
Julieta's husband wasn't home at the moment, it was her sister Pepa who rushed in first and gasped. "Dios mío! Félix hurry!" She screamed for her husband. Félix rushed in and stopped seeing his sister in law on the floor. Carefully he knelt down and scooped her limp body from the floor. After taking her to her bedroom, leaving Pepa to tend to her Félix rushed from the casita and into the village for the doctor.
There was only one doctor in Encanto and he wasn't kept all that busy because of Julieta. He was an old man so it took him some time to get to casita Madrigal. When he did he examined Julieta, by now Julieta was surrounded by not only her sister but mother and husband as well. Her brother Bruno was minding all the children, trying to keep them calm.
After her examination, the doctor concluded that Julieta had pneumonia. There had been an outbreak of it only a week ago. Julieta had managed to heal all those affected but she had contracted it herself. And worst of all when she began to feel ill she hadn't told anyone assuming she'd get over it. The doctor said it seemed she had been suffering for days. He like the others in the room knew Julieta could not heal herself.
So he left medicine for her and insisted that she must rest and suggested that all the children in the home be kept away from her until she recovered. If she were to die and let the illness spread it could be disastrous for the village. Of course, that was the last reason her death would be disastrous to her husband.
Hours later Julieta finally woke, her husband at her bedside holding her hand, his head down unaware his beloved had woken. "Agustín.." she whispered, her voice somewhat raspy. He looked up quickly and sighed in relief. "Amor!" He quickly moved to get her a glass of water, returning her carefully let her sip at it before she sighed and coughed, turning her head and covering her mouth.
"Julieta." Agustín said firmly. Normally he was such a soft spoken man, gentle in his tones. But this time he sounded almost stern. Slowly Julieta looked to him, she didn't have time to speak before he spoke again. "Why didn't you tell me you were sick?" He asked, more worry in his voice than anger. Tearing up Julieta shook her head "I... I didn't want to worry you. I thought.. I'd get better."
Sighing Agustín set the glass of water down and moved to sit beside his wife, reluctant she curled beside him. "Lo siento amor.." she whispered, Agustín only shook his head. "Julieta I'm disappointed." He said, Julieta felt her heart sink. Her biggest fear was letting everyone down. Her mother, her family, the entire village. And now the one person she fear letting down the most was disappointed in her?
Julieta only nodded "I know Agustín.. I-" he cut her off and looked down at her. "You don't know. To everyone here.. you're a healer.. an angel. To me.. you are mine. My gift." He said. "You were being selfish Julieta." Julieta frowned and looked away. Julieta always did for everyone, how could she be selfish?
"You want me to go on alone? To raise Isabela and Luisa alone? For them to grow up with no mother?" He asked, Julieta, shook her head. "No.. no I don't." Agustín nodded, he hated being so firm and cross with her but he needed to drive home how serious this was.
Pulling her close he wiped her tears and made her look at him. "Julieta.. I have never demanded anything from you until now. When something goes wrong with you... when you are sick or hurt you have to tell me.. so that I can take care of you." He said, his own voice now breaking with emotion as he too began to tear up. Removing his glasses he set them aside and pulled his wife in close. Both cried together until Agustín had fallen asleep, clinging to his wife, fearful if he let her go she might just disappear.
Julieta didn't fall asleep but remained in Agustín's arms. Sniffling back her tears she sighed and closed her eyes. Agustín was right, she had been selfish. Yes her gift was supposed to help others but not at the risk of her family. She had more to think about now, her children, Agustín. She swore to herself from this point on she'd be more careful, and when she did get sick she'd tell Agustín as soon as possible.
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02/28/2022 06:54 PM
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Fear
Fear By: Healer // 550989 "Please Julieta... he's just back here. He's been so sick. He's had fever... he's too weak to get out of bed.. he coughs blood! I'm so worried he's going to die!" Said the frantic young mother Jennifer Muñoz, the latest in need of Julieta's magical gift. Smiling weakly Julieta took her hands. "He won't die, I promise. I know the worry.. but relax. I'm here." She assured the mother who was a few years younger than herself.
Entering the small room of the child she was meant to heal she set eyes on him, sympathy for him as his little body shivered with chills, a heartbreaking heavy wet cough came from the little one. "Señora.." he whined weakly. "I don't feel good." He said before coughing again. The mother in Julieta just wanted to go and hold the boy, comfort him. Though she knew she shouldn't get too close she always did.
Walking over she took a seat on his bed beside him. "Well I'm here to make you feel all better." She said and pulled out a small bowl and spoon. Pulling away the cover she revealed some sort of pudding. "I made you Postre de Natas.. everyone who has been sick has had a sore throat from coughing.. this might be easier to take down. Come come.." she gently helped him sit up.
The boy sat up and whimpered a little "here mijo.." carefully Julieta took a spoonful of the pudding and fed it to the sick child before her. She watched for a moment and smiled as a physical change could be noted in the child. His color seemed to return and the heavy sound of his breathing was no more. "Señora! Gracias! Gracias!" The boy said jumping toward Julieta. Julieta caught the boy and embraced him. The fear of her magic not working was always so present in her, she always worried what if she couldn't heal this time?
Smiling Julieta sighed in relief and gently set him back. "Now you mind your Mamá.. stay in bed a few days?" Smiling she gently handed him the pudding. "And finish this." She said before standing, Jennifer thanking her quickly before rushing past her. Julieta spoke briefly with Mateo, the boy's father. But after that, she left heading home. She had no idea that she could have just put herself in harms way to catch the illness the boy had had.
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02/28/2022 06:22 PM
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Hidden Pain
Hidden Pain By: Healer // 550989 "Mirabel! MIRABEL!!" Julieta screamed as the rippling tiles of Casita tried to push her from the home. "Mira please! The house is going to fall! MIRA!" Julieta screamed before Casita made the last effort to force everyone from it for their own safety. Everyone was flung from the home in different directions including Julieta. Flying backward she hit the ground hard and she heard a crack, not from Casita but from within her own body.
She sucked in a quick breath though the intense pain in her midsection made her eyes fill with tears. Though she only focused on that for a brief moment before she fought through the pain and stood trying to move toward the house again, her husband Agustín grabbing her arm. "NO!" She watched as the weight of the entire home crumbled down on her youngest daughter.
Julieta pulled from her husband's grip and rushed into the rubble. "Mirabel! Oh Mirabel!" She rushed toward her daughter and knelt down. "Mirabel... are you hurt?" She asked gently touching her face, examining her for any time of injury she might have gotten in the collapse of the home. Mirabel only gave a weak shake of her head that she wasn't hurt.
"Julieta! Julieta come quick!" Julieta heard her sister's urgent voice, the cries of her youngest nephew. "JULIETA!" Pepa screamed more urgently. Julieta glanced in her direction and then to Mirabel. "Don't move, I'll be right back." She said before rushing to her sister who held Antonio, the youngest of the Madrigal's who was clinging to his mother and sobbing.
Quickly Julieta checked him over, other than some bumps and scraps which they all had he was alright. "He's just scared Pepa.." she assured her sister, after all, who wouldn't be completely terrified after watching their home crumble before them. Julieta herself felt like breaking down into tears. Though she wasn't sure if that was because of Casita's fall or the growing pain she felt.
Walking over to what was her kitchen she knelt down, forcing herself not to wince as she began to gather the bottles of her home remedies, the only medicine they'd all have for now. She stood and let out a shaky sigh, her eyes wandering to where she had left Mirabel, she was gone. "Mirabel?" She called out before frowning. "Mirabel!? Where is she?!"
Julieta and Agustín began frantically looking around the rubble though that was when Julieta finally cried out and nearly collapsed. Thankfully Agustín was close enough he caught her. "Amor?" Julieta finally couldn't hide her pain anymore. Tears filled her eyes and fell. "I hurt.." she confessed quietly to him. Agustín looked to her frantic. In their marriage, he had always been the one getting hurt. In their entire twenty five year marriage he could count on both hands how many times Julieta had been sick or injured.
"What do I do?" He asked, the panic and uncertainty in his voice. Julieta shook her head and held tightly to him. "I just... need a minute.. I think.. it's my ribs.. I think I broke.. or cracked a few.." she said between breaths. Julieta had always been known for her healing magic. But her knowledge of the body and medicine went far beyond her magic. She usually could diagnose most things, certainly herself.
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02/23/2022 01:33 PM
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Pressure
Pressure By: Healer // 550989 The day of Pepa's wedding had been a somewhat turbulent day. On a good day, Pepa had mild bouts of anxiety which caused her magic to flare, and normally she could more or less control this. But on the day of her wedding poor Pepa was a bundle of nerves and everyone knew this due to the hurricane that had taken place at the beginning of her ceremony. Thankfully the storm hadn't lasted but it left everything wet so after the initial ceremony, all the festivities needed to now take place in the Madrigal home which hadn't been prepared.
It was a lot of rushing around, spur of the moment planning but once the reception began everyone was enjoying themselves, even Pepa had seemed to relax some as she took to the dance floor twirling around with her new husband Félix. Bruno who had felt rather guilty for all that happened sat off to the side alone just watching everything take place. He hadn't meant to spark Pepa's fears about the wedding but he had and he was sorry.
It all seemed forgotten now, at least by Pepa. Alma however was still somewhat upset about how the day began. "Married during a hurricane! Everything is soaking wet! What kind of wedding is that?!" She said to her eldest daughter Julieta. Looking to her mother Julieta frowned "hush Mamá.. Pepa will hear and you will make her feel bad. I'll admit it could have started better but look at Pepa now. She's happy. Just let her enjoy it Mamá." Julieta scolded softly and smiled watching her sister and brother in law.
Alma frowned and looked to Julieta, she didn't like when her eldest spoke up to her. Looking at Pepa and Félix as well she spoke. "It is good to see Pepa happily married. About time this family had a wedding." Julieta seemed to tense at this subject, she had had these discussions before with her mother. Silently she prayed Alma wouldn't continue but her prayers went unanswered.
"I always thought it might be you to marry first. You've known Agustín for how long now?" Julieta hesitated "many years Mamá.." she said and frowned as Alma continued. "Sí and still no proposal? Why hasn't he asked you for your hand yet?" Alma asked, Julieta began to fidget nervously, it was a question she often asked herself. She knew Agustín could be shy and soft spoken, she only hoped that was the only reason he hadn't asked her to marry him yet.
"Perhaps it is time to look elsewhere.. if he isn't ready to commit. If he loved you he'd have asked by now." Alma said simply and that was too much for Julieta. "Excuse me Mamá.." she said and quickly rushed away from the reception taking refuge in her kitchen. Leaning against the counter she held in her tears. Alma knew how much Julieta loved Agustín. Why would she say something so awful?
All these thoughts swirled around Julieta's mind until she was snapped from her thoughts by a voice, Agustín. "Mi amor? Are you alright? I saw you rush in here." He said as he approached her. Julieta didn't turn around but spoke. "It's just.. Mamá... sometimes.. she can be such a good madre. And make me feel so much better. And then other times she's like a predator... waiting and pouncing at the weakest moment."
Agustín frowned hearing all this, just by the sound of Julieta's voice he could tell she was upset. "Julieta.." he said and turned her. Instantly he wiped the tears that had begun to fall down her cheeks. "What did she say?" He asked calmly. Agustín was upset that Alma had caused Julieta to cry but he'd never confront her about all he could do was comfort Julieta. Anything more would cause problems for her.
Julieta hesitated to tell Agustín what Alma had said. She was quiet for a few moments before he tilted her head to make her look at him. "What did she say?" He repeated causing Julieta to almost begin crying again. "She said.. you didn't love me... because you haven't asked me to marry you. And because Pepa got married first." She said, her bottom lip trembled as she held back the urge to just let herself go.
Agustín stared at Julieta for a moment before rolling his eyes and cursing quietly. "Julieta.. that isn't true at all. I've wanted to ask you for some time but-" Agustín stopped and now he seemed to hesitate, this only further worried Julieta. "But what?" She asked urgently, Agustín shook his head. "You'll think it's estúpido.." he said, Julieta shaking her head. "I won't!"
Finally looking to her Agustín gave a small grin. "Félix and I.. we had a little bet and I lost it and whoever won.. got to ask their girl to marry them first. I was planning to ask you after all the wedding things were over." Juliet looked to Agustín before breaking out into laughter and hugging him tightly. "Ay Agustín! I love you so much.." she said and shook her head. "I'm sorry I got so upset.. just... Mamá got in my head-" Agustín shushed Julieta and gave her a gentle kiss. "We all know how she can be. But I promise.. very soon... you will get your proposal."
Shaking her head Julieta took his hand and smiled "come on. Let's get back to the fiesta.. you owe me a dance." She said. Smiling Agustín allowed Julieta to pull him along back to the wedding reception. Julieta didn't speak to Alma the rest of the evening. There wasn't any point to. She wasn't going to allow this day to be ruined any longer. She was going to celebrate with her sister and have fun.
♡
"What did she say?"
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