January 10th
My Sweetheart,
I had no choice but to laugh at your choice of salutations for me sometimes Anne, most men look to opening their love letters from their betrothed and expect some form of endearment and (I don't mind telling you) would be insulted to find anything but the expected 'to the one who completes me', 'my love', 'my darling'. Instead when I hold a letter in my hand from you I never know if you will be as sentimental as the rest and open your letter with the aforementioned form or whether I am to expect words from another soul which only you could find romantic. Be assured by love, because YOU find the openings of Aunt Chatty's grandmother's old love letters so romantic I find myself anticipating, wondering if I'll find typically romantic Anne or the one which could open the letter "My Esteemed friend". You my dear Anne are so unpredictable and it makes a fella's life so much more interesting. I don't take it as others would you know, I suppose in a way it what makes us so perfect for each other, we know of each other's affection and don't always need the reassurance with every passing letter (although be it known my love, I don't mind reassurances like you gave over the holidays, feel free to give me THOSE kind of reassurances again and again!)
What is a sensible love letter Anne? Surely it's just a letter? What an interesting new year's resolution. I shall endeavour with every passing sentence, paragraph, letter and week to weaken your resolve for you to break your resolution by midterm. Can I make myself so irresistible to you?
Katherine was a nice girl once she let herself go a little. I suppose it was quite fulfilling in a way to see what is left of our age groups bachelors clamber to entertain her. It was nice to know I was part of making that happiness happen. I'm afraid I couldn't match make as you do. With the exception of myself and you and Fred and Di, I could never tell you which two people "belonged together." (but my dear you are careful are you not of matters of the heart? For you and I know just how easily it might be broken) But I think I only knew in the case of Fred and Di because they are our closest friends. With you, I just fell. I fell so deeply in by the time I noticed I was in love I was already drowning myself in it. You were beautiful, and smart, funny and studious, full of life yet sobering, you are an eternal enigma Anne Shirley and I knew I had to know you more and more. I look forward to the day I can say "I know you all" for nothing to be between us anymore. You were right at Christmas, the day is so near yet just out of grasp but know my love, and I do look forward to it. It what keeps me going on cold and lonely nights such as tonight (although my love your leaving present heats my bed quicker than any hot water bottle could!)
Rebecca Dew says such nice things because everyone loves you Anne. They love you being there, I bet you would always have a home there. You want to know what I think? I think Rebecca Dew really loves that cat? Although please don't tell her I said that, I can't have her hating me before she has even met me.
Back to work with and it's as if we were never away. I am glad Anne we found a little time aside to study. Or rather I studied you patiently acted as a sounding board. You know even now you amaze me with what you understand. That sounds awful though I don't mean for it to. What I mean is I've been studying medicine for the past year and a half yet when I sit down with you, you make me feel as though I'm as thick as two short planks because you haven't been studying the material yet seem to be able to grasp it so much more than I did upon first reading maybe you should be the doctor? Would you go out and earn a living instead of me? I think I should make a good house husband? Although perhaps our little ones would be better off with a loving mother's touch and your sweet whisperings, I think I would break like straw when confronted with screaming children, which they inevitably would be if I as left in charge, but you my love, would install such love and harmony in them, I can imagine the occasional spat but our children shall be lovely. So I'd be better studying hard to be able to provide the best future for us.
We're on to the female reproduction system this term. Please watch as I slowly start to blush more and more for all I can imagine is you. I think my head will be buried in a book in the hope that no one will notice and no one ask me any questions. That's right, the usually over committed Gilbert Blythe who won the Cooper Prize, who knows the answers to ALL the questions shall be unusually quiet at the back of the class all because of you! I have a feeling this is going to be a LONG semester!
Well my love I must get back to studying, I can't go pining after you forever more but know even when I pen my name my thoughts are still of you.
Forever yours
Gil.
