Blanca's mother, Clara del Valle (Meryl Streep) was a child with psychic powers in 1926 when Esteban Trueba (Jeremy Irons) came to propose to Clara's older sister, Rosa del Valle. Even though she was very young—-maybe about 6 years old—-Clara knew she was in love with this man. Esteban left his fiancée with her family to earn money for their wedding. One day, Clara had a vision and told her sister Rosa that there would be an accidental death in the family. The next day, Rosa died in her sleep after drinking poison intended for her father, Senator Severo. Clara blamed herself for her sister's death, and after accidentally witnessing Rosa's autopsy, she decided never to speak again.