The Last Candle

Market Meeting

It was a beautiful day. There were clouds in the sky, rain falling to create a gentle patter on rooftops and market stalls while brilliant rays of golden sunshine shone in small patches, lighting up small pockets like jewels. It smelled of fresh grass and clean streets.

Beautiful.

Of course, some people complained that Pepa, the town's citizen that controlled the weather, should get control of her emotions and turn off the rain before they were all soaked, but Valeria really didn't mind. The rain was refreshing, soaking into her clothes and chilling her slightly. But that didn't matter. It was a light rain anyway, soon to disappear.

What did make her mad was the people of Encanto complaining about it. Not everyone was emotionless idiots all the time. The Madrigal should be allowed to feel whatever whenever she wanted. People never thought of it that way.

This was why she stayed in her family's casita, in the outskirts of town.

Valeria sighed. Of course, she should probably be making more friends outside of her neighbourhood... trying to delve into the Encanto culture and lifestyle... but her bedroom was much more comforting. The people she had grown up with were more welcoming, less... snooty than those in the upper levels. Sleep was a lot more enjoyable than being around a bunch of people who depended so heavily on one, singular family that they were completely lost without them.

Idiots.

"Just get the cloth and get back." She whispered to herself. "Socialize if someone talks to you, but don't be awkward about it. And do not freeze up if someone talks to you. Never, ever do that." She could get back to familiar streets quickly if she didn't get distracted.

Sands, she was going to get distracted.

She gave herself a pep-talk the entire walk, counting her steps to distract herself, even singing lullabies for children. It still seemed like the walk took forever, and the knot inside of her stomach grew worse. Far worse. She considered hunching over and hiding against a wall. Blend into the stone and never have to talk to a single person for the rest of her life.

I wish I could become a chameleon or something and be done with life.

It was just a roll of cloth. And then she could hide under the sheets of her bed until she had enough energy to look at people. And maybe pull a prank. But that was if she regained enough mental sanity to look people in the face. 

Stupid Cisco and his addiction to sewing.

Chatter came from the market first. It sent a shiver down Valeria's spine, not at all related to the water soaking her clothes. She was going to catch a cold. Ha. Another reason to avoid people. She was going to stay outside as long as possible. The sound wasn't unlike that in the lower levels of Encanto. It was the same, nearly fooling Valeria. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to gather her wits.

This fancy, done-up place could never, ever be like the homes and shops that were built closer to the mountains. These people didn't even have enough backbone to solve their own problems. They depended so much on one, overworked family. If the family were to lose the magic that made them so special... no one here would be able to function.

Next came the people, slowly trickling off with arms full of toys and food and cloth. Everything that one could imagine came from such a small town's main square. Circle. Thing. Valeria took a deep breath, whispering to herself that it was going to be ok, that she was not going to glare at anyone or make a bad first impression.

She didn't come up to this market often.

If at all. 

There were smaller ones near the outskirts so that people didn't have to walk so far to get what they needed, but Cisco wanted a specific fabric from a specific store. Of course. He wouldn't have it any other way.