dearly beloved.

          With the recent release of the Disney-Pixar film Encanto, I have actually seen a couple people online who have taken to their art skills and have turned themselves into members of the Madrigal family. One that I saw on social media was of a girl declaring that she thought her power would be communicating with the dead, and I began thinking about how cool but also how scary that power could come off as. Besides her powers, Marisol is very much a normal college student – she’s not very different from myself, or my sister, or my friends. I wanted her to feel relatable despite her abilities, so I hope that translates as she struggles with rather mundane problems: wanting to fit in, liking a boy, and being compared to her perfect sister.

          Marisol wants to be normal. She dislikes how lots of people in the living world treat her because of her powers – they are uncomfortable with death and the unknown, so in turn, they are uncomfortable being around Marisol. As a college kid, connections are absolutely vital to survive out here. If I were disliked and avoided because of something I couldn’t control, and that led me to having zero friends to lean back on … well, what would happen? How would I cope without those connections? What would I consider doing to be seen differently? Throughout the story, Marisol’s need becomes more clear. Instead of wanting to fit into a particular box, she needs to accept that her abilities actually give her more connections that she might realize. Marisol’s desire to fit in is superficial in comparison to the genuine connections that are right in front of her, which she needs to hold close in order to keep her grounded. Living, she has her family – mainly her twin sister, Mariposa, who tries to understand her. Dead, she has her best friend, Max, who is a spirit that she also has a crush on. If Marisol were to turn away from her sister or Max, or give up her abilities completely, she would be cutting off a vital part of herself.

          Most of the story, you are presented with two choices – one of them will show favoritism towards the living (Mari), while the other will showcase favoritism towards the dead (Max). Some choices will allow Marisol to be mean to Mari, which shows that she has become calloused towards the living world for treating her as they do; some of these choices will allow Marisol to be kind, instead, despite the treatment she faces. Towards the end of the game, Marisol’s ultimate dilemma is between being fully accepted by the living world versus the world of the dead – it is up to you to decide where you think Marisol would be happiest, based on how you have decided to play her and what her demeanor towards both worlds is. It is possible for Marisol to put her wants in front of her needs, and jeopardize her relationship with Mari or Max as a result. It is also possible, however, for Marisol to realize how to balance both, and accept her powers as a gift instead of a curse. 

          I think everyone has struggled with putting something they think they want first versus putting what they actually need as a priority instead. Despite this story taking place around a girl with the magic ability to speak to the dead, this struggle is still relatable and will touch the reader’s heart. I believe I spent a fair amount of time establishing the characters and their delicate relationships, and this makes the reader more involved in the storytelling process – if they feel connected to Marisol, Max, and Mari, then they will want to pick choices that will keep them out of harm’s way and in good standing with each other. I am an avid fan of role playing games, so I based the story beats and and decisions points off a similar style of storytelling. Everything flows naturally as the reader follows Marisol, Max, and Mari to the cemetery so that Marisol can help the dead residing there. However, an old and powerful spirit has other plans for the trio, and places Marisol under the ultimate test to see where her true loyalty lies.