**Chapter 1: The Family Business**

Luisa Rivera scrubbed the last of the morning's mess from the floor of the family's shoe shop, her worn denim overalls stained with scraps of leather and threads of glue. She hated cleaning up after her father's endless projects, but it was part of the job. As the eldest of three siblings, Luisa had always been expected to lend a hand with the family business. Her brother Miguel, on the other hand, seemed to get away with doing as little as possible, much to Luisa's dismay. As she swept the dusty floor, Luisa's mind wandered to the upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations. She loved this time of year, when the streets were filled with vibrant altars and colorful sugar skulls. Her family always made a big deal about the holiday, decorating the shop with papier-mâché skeletons and traditional Mexican flowers. The doorbell above the shop entrance jangled, signaling the arrival of her father, Héctor, and brother, Enrique. Luisa rolled her eyes good-naturedly as they burst into the shop, laughing and arguing over some silly joke. "Morning, Lupe!" Héctor boomed, planting a kiss on Luisa's forehead. "I brought your brother Enrique back from his trip to the city. He has some fantastic news to share." Enrique, Luisa's younger brother, grinned mischievously as he unwrapped a large package from his backpack. "I brought back some amazing designs for new shoe styles, Papa. I think they'll be huge hits." Luisa raised an eyebrow, skeptical. Enrique was always coming up with wild ideas, and most of them ended in disaster. But Héctor was always eager to encourage his children's creativity, even if it meant taking a risk. As they began to discuss Enrique's designs, Luisa's thoughts drifted to her own aspirations. She had always dreamed of leaving the shop behind and becoming a famous artist, but her parents had other plans. They expected her to take over the family business one day, just like Héctor had taken over from his own father. The tension between Luisa's desires and her family's expectations simmered just below the surface, waiting to boil over. For now, she pushed it aside and focused on helping Enrique and Héctor bring his latest scheme to life. Just as they were getting started, the doorbell above the entrance jangled once more, and a harried-looking customer burst into the shop. "Señor Rivera, I need a new pair of shoes for my daughter's quinceañera. Can you make them in time?" Héctor beamed, always ready to take on a new challenge. "Of course, my friend. We'll work our magic. Luisa, Enrique, let's get to work!" As the day's tasks began to pile up, Luisa felt a sense of unease growing inside her. She wasn't sure if she was ready to follow in her father's footsteps, but she knew she had to try. Little did she know, the upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations would bring more than just colorful altars and sugar skulls – they would bring change, and not all of it would be easy to accept.