I recently came across an intriguing question on Threads from @crimsonnoblewrites: “Authors: What’s the best thing in your main character’s life?” It got me thinking about Bianca, aka Isabella Ramirez, the complex protagonist of my novel Under The Flamboyant Tree. The best thing Bianca has going for her is undoubtedly her self-preservation skills. They’ve been both her shield and her Achilles’ heel throughout her life.

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Bianca’s self-preservation isn’t just a habit—it’s a skill she mastered out of necessity. From a young age, she had to learn how to forget, evade, and run away from troubles that were too overwhelming to confront. Whether it was to avoid the harsh realities of her environment or protect her psyche from further damage, Bianca became adept at compartmentalizing her experiences. This ability to compartmentalize was her survival tactic, a way to navigate the emotional landmines of her life.

Unfortunately, as Bianca grew older and her surroundings changed, those same survival skills became detrimental. Now in an environment where people with bad intentions hide behind money and good manners, her instinct to compartmentalize and evade made her vulnerable in a different way. It’s ironic how the very skills that kept her alive and sane as a child started to harm her in adulthood, making it difficult for her to connect deeply with others and to face the realities of her past.

In Under The Flamboyant Tree, Bianca’s journey is about more than just facing external challenges; it’s about confronting the internal ones, too. The story delves into her struggle to unlearn the survival skills that no longer serve her. Bianca must peel back the layers she’s built up over the years and confront the pain she’s buried so deep. Her journey is a testament to the fact that sometimes, the things that once saved us can also be the things we need to let go of in order to truly live.

It’s a powerful reminder that self-preservation, while essential at times, can also become a barrier to genuine healing and growth. Bianca’s story is one of transformation—of finding the strength to face the past rather than run from it, and of learning to navigate life with open eyes and an open heart.

So, when I think about what’s the best thing in Bianca’s life, it’s clear to me that it’s her self-preservation skills. But it’s also clear that the best part of her life will come when she learns that true strength isn’t just about surviving, but also about being willing to face your fears head-on, embrace vulnerability, and allow yourself to heal.