A few hours later, Gilbert found himself driving over the Prince Edward Island bridge. He had planned on leaving in the morning, but he knew that sleep would not find him tonight, that each time he closed his eyes the image from Anne's Facebook status would be there, haunting him. Anne with her gray eyes fixed on Royal Gardner, who smiled rather smugly at the camera, his arm fixed possessively around her. Not knowing what else to do, he packed his car and left . Gilbert always thought of himself as a non-violent person, so the things he found himself wanting to do to Roy Gardner surprised him. Of course, he had heard rumors of Anne and Roy dating, but he hoped it would lead to nowhere, like every other guy Anne dated. Why Roy? What made him worthy of Anne? Just the thought of Anne in a relationship with another man made Gil feel as if he was being strangled, like he would never draw a whole breath again. Indeed, something inside of him seemed to be torn away. Anne was torn away, leaving a gaping hole. Last Spring, the first time Anne broke his heart, his one consolation was that she assured him there was no other. The one life preserver she had thrown him, the one thing that kept him afloat these last nine months, was gone. Gilbert felt himself going under, being swallowed by despair.
The lights were on when Gilbert arrived home. He didn't bother unpacking his car, he simply unlocked the door and walked in. He found his mother at the kitchen table, her laptop open before her. She rose from her chair and embraced him. The kitchen smelled like she had been baking all day.
"Charlie messaged me that you were on your way. It's good to have you home!" They both sat down across from each other. She pushed a plate of Christmas cookies toward him.
"I haven't been home in so long, I was anxious to get here" Gil said. It was partly true. His voice sounded hollow, even to him. His mom studied his face for moment, her hazel eyes discerning as only a mother's eyes can. He picked up a gingerbread man.
"I saw Anne's news on Facebook..." She said, letting her words trail off. Gilbert scowled at the cookie in his hand. Of course his mother knew how he felt about Anne. Anybody in Avonlea who wasn't blind knew, and he was sure those who were blind were filled in by gossips. Again, that Facebook image came unbidden to his mind, again. Or had it ever left? Anne gazing at Roy...his arm around her...touching her. He broke the head off the gingerbread man.
"Yeah, I heard" he managed to say. Please, please, talk about anything else he silently pleaded. He realized the cookie was now a crumbled heap on the table.
"Well, I guess I will go to bed, now that you're home safe." She kissed the top of his head. She paused in the doorway. "You know I love Anne, but there are plenty of fish in the sea. Night, love."
Gilbert managed a half hearted nod. "Night."
After his mom left the kitchen he pulled her laptop over and brought up Anne's post on Facebook. Why was he doing this to himself? It seemed that all of her friends at least liked it, with many commenting their congrats and well wishes. Gilbert wondered if Anne would notice his lack of acknowledgement.