Imelda was aware of his growth in popularity, sí. At first she had thought it was only in the Land of the Remembered, after the events of Día de Muertos, there were few who did not know the truth of what had happened that night. Even those who had not been able to find boletos to the Sunrise Spectacular had been given a retelling of events from those who had. While Héctor recovered from coming so dangerously close to the Final Death, it had taken all the familia, and especially Pepita, to keep the people and their preguntas at bay. Questions and curiosities and demands. Everything Imelda had hated about the idea of performing music for the world long before Héctor had left and long before Ernesto had stopped him from returning home. The way people demanded and wanted more, wanting ownership, wanted performances on command...it held no attraction for Imelda, con música o sin música
But she had not expected there to be the same popularity in the Living World. But even if she hadn’t noticed how much brighter Héctor’s bones were, how he walked better, had more energy, she would have noticed the new arrivals talking about him. More and more people who came through the gates at Llegadas were talking about Héctor Rivera, the secret composer, and about his story as well as his music. Her whole familia was slowly becoming the topic of conversation for everyone. Imelda was glad that it helped secure Héctor’s memory but…her familia was her familia. It was not for everyone to talk about.
“Well, when it happens, I want to be there. Do not tell him, but I will find it amusing” To see him try some trick only to tug and tug and for it to hold as fast as Imelda’s own huesos. Quizás she should not be so amused by the thought, but he had made her jump too many times by placing limbs where she did not expect them, or leaving his cabeza on a worktop, that it was about time the joke was on him instead.
“A few?” Imelda asked in shock. Quizás she could say Miguel was not afraid of a challenge and they had that in common, but….what else? She looked at La Muerte in confusion, eyes silently asking for explanations. How could a boy like Miguel have anything of her in him? He was all Héctor. It was what had made her worry about him each time she saw him on día de muertos and most especially when he had stolen a guitarra, willing to leave his familia to play it. Pero ahora...it was something that made her smile and feel confident that Miguel would do right by his familia.
“Héctor….he spent so long in this place alone,” It was a hard truth, but one Imelda was forcing herself to face, “A long time before I died and a long time after….” Time in which he could have been with his familia, but she had only turned him away at every attempt. He had never even met Victoria, his own nieta, all because she had believed he could be capable of abandoning his familia. Una creencia estúpida she should have been too intelligent to think true. She had known Héctor better than that and yet…she had been quick to think the worst of him. Héctor may claim he had forgiven her, but she was not so sure she could forgive herself. “He must have have lived a life aquí...Did…he have amigos?” She asked, “People he befriended and could go to? Todos estos años..who did he spend time with?” A pause, “Did he live with someone?”
❣❣ It was like what humans had said to keep themselves assured--karma gets back at you, in life or death. Ernesto had been a sorry excuse of a musician & a person ever since he chose to do the unthinkable, fall into temptation & greed & let it consume him. Then again, why should she be so concerned about him? She wasn’t, but only amused by how the world worked. There was so much mystery that happened around the world, works that even gods didn’t have control over. Satisfying to say the least, & even more satisfying to watch the rightful musician grow.
She could see how this affected Imelda, & although she was delighted by the fact that her husband was being remembered, it was clear that many elements that came with it was...unpleasant. The matriarch never seemed to be the type to bask in fame, her eyes only being on her family & no one else. For several to try & snoop around her was a terrible idea, as they would have most likely met a terrible fate by either her or her alebrije. If only people understood to give others privacy, then none of this should have been a problem to be fixated on.
“ I won’t tell a soul. ” A smile gleamed from her crimson lips, promisingly genuine. The goddess herself would be there to watch the occasion as well, as she would love to watch it all unfold.
She nodded confidently. “ A few. How do you think he managed to survive the night? ” His determination, his stubbornness, his passion & wits--all of that was from her without a doubt. Although she understood how Héctor seemed to have more resemblance with him than her, she saw it to be a good mixture of the two. He was generous & sympathetic, but also headstrong & unafraid. He was a good balance of character, resulting in a good child overall.
“ Yes & no--his amigos were also his familia in Shantytown, but I do believe you are aware of how short their lifespans are. ” Unfortunate as it was, it was the truth. “ He has been one of the only few that pulled through, & as for the rest...they weren’t as lucky as him. ” One disappearance after another, he learned how to let go, even accepting his own Final Death when it finally came around.
“ He had several that he was close to, only for them to be gone the next day. So, he decided to live alone--to lessen a pain that soon became familiar to him. ” A pause. “ & don’t worry, he wasn’t with any woman after he unintentionally left you. ”