Chapter 3

The Reveal

Warning: This chapter is heartbreaking

To Anne Shirley-Cuthbert and Mrs. Blackmore,

I have written to request that my niece Ms. Anne Shirley-Cuthbert be permitted to come stay with me for the time frame of 1 week. Her services are requested as I, Ms. Josephine Barry, have taken ill and am not able to complete day to day tasks as I have been in the past.

Anne shall be able to continue to attend classes on campus as I live in Charlottetown and will have proper transportation as well as a chaperone in place.

Thank you for this consideration,

Josephine Barry.

Diana watched in anguish while Anne read the letter and as it fell out of her hands onto the bed in front of her. She cradled her face in her hands and cried earth-shattering sobs. Diana walked up to Anne sitting on the bed, slowly sat next to her, and rubbed her back.

Diana: What is it?

Diana felt dread knowing full well what was wrong and hoping against all hope that Anne would forgive her for putting her through this torment. Diana had to keep telling herself this is the right thing to do in order to go through with it. Anne fighting her way through her sobs, looked up at Diana.

Anne: It's Aunt Jo, she's sick, and needs help.

Diana: If she's sick you need to go.

Anna: Mrs. Blackmore.

Diana: Show her the letter Anne. She will let you go. It is of absolute importance!

Anne: But why would she request me? You are her real niece?

Diana shrugged.

Diana: Perhaps it is because you saved Minnie May and you know how to help? I'm not sure, in any case she wants you, so show Mrs. Blackmore.

Anne looked at Diana and nodded her head.

Anne: You're right. And even if she doesn't approve, I will leave anyway.

Anne got up from the bed and walked to the mirror. She wiped her tears on her cheeks, then turned, picked up the letter and went to seek out Mrs. Blackmore.

Diana sighed. She could only hope that her friend would forgive her for putting her through these emotions. While Anne was away, Diana set out to pack some things for her to take with her to Aunt Josephine's. Keeping in mind that Gilbert would be there she snuck a few of her most beautiful dresses in with Anne's things. She smiled knowing that Anne was going to be positively radiant.

Sitting there across from Mrs. Blackmore was distressing enough. Anne shook her knee up and down involuntarily awaiting her to finish reading her letter.

Mrs. Blackmore: You need to leave?

Anne: It is very important that I go. I don't want to regret not being there in case….

Anne closed her eyes and sighed.

Mrs. Blackmore: Alright then. You are approved to leave.

Tears came to Anne's eyes.

Anne: Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me.

Mrs. Blackmore: I do. I can see it reflecting off you. I am approving you 7 days leave. I will contact your professors to let them know of your absence.

Anne: The letter did say I would be able to continue going to classes?

Mrs. Blackmore: Miss Cuthbert I know that importance of family and I know that you are an excellent student. Therefore, I insist that you take this time to focus and taking care of your aunt so that she may get well.

Anne nodded and stood up.

Anne: Thank you so much. If there is ever anything I can ever to repay you please, just let me know. I must start packing,

Mrs. Blackmore nodded, and Anne took her leave.

Anne raced to her bedroom to see that her suitcase was already packed and ready to go.

Diana: Anne I packed your bag, and I will escort you.

Anne: Thank you

Diana and Anne walked through the park.

Anne: Diana, this is not the way to Aunt Jo's.

Diana turned to look at Anne with dread in her eyes.

Diana: I must admit I have a confession.

Anne looked with wonder in her eyes and cocked her head.

Anne: What do you mean?

Diana took a deep breath, as she saw off in the distance Gilbert was approaching.

Diana: The letter you got was not from Aunt Jo.

Anne took a step back and answered her breathlessly.

Anne: What?

Diana: I forged the letter so that you could have some time away.

Anne's demeanor switched from distress to anger.

Anne: You did what!

Diana: I'm sorry, but Anne I can't worry about you like this. You are really scaring me. You're depressed all the time, you haven't been completing assignments, I hear you cry at night, do you know that? It's quite literally breaking my heart standing by and watching this happen, so I did something for you. I hope above all else that you can find it in you to forgive me for the anguish that the letter so obviously caused.

Anne: Diana if anyone finds out about this we could be evicted!

Diana: You let me worry about that. I will take full responsibility.

Anne: It won't matter because if I don't go back the second, I knew about it I will have just as much responsibility as you. I'm going back!

Anne turned and ran straight into what she thought was a brick wall. The person put their hands on her arm to steady her, so she didn't fall.

Anne: I'm so sorry.

Wait! She knew those hands. Anne slowly lifted her gaze to see Gilbert standing there. Anne stood there staring at Gilbert completely flabbergasted and dropped the suitcase that was in her hand.

Anne: What?

Gilbert: I've missed you so…

Anne: Gilbert?

Anne launched herself into Gilberts arms and did something neither Gilbert nor Diana expected. She sobbed.

Gilbert held her tight and rubbed her back.

Gilbert: Hey! What's this?

Anne continued to sob into his neck. Gilbert looked to Diana with worry in his eyes as she mouthed 'I told you' Gilbert shifted his attention back to Anne and whispered in her ear.

Gilbert: I love you

Anne responded with another sob. As she gradually came down from her very emotional outburst, Gilbert pulled back and place a comforting hand on her cheek to wipe the tears away.

Gilbert: What is it my love?

Anne leaned into his hand and closed her eyes but did not respond. Diana realized right then that she should quietly make her exit. She slowly backed away towards the boarding house leaving them alone.

Gilbert: What's eating at you?

Anne just stared back into his eyes, with tears running down her face. She didn't have any words to say that would make him understand.

Gilbert sighed knowing that silent and sobbing Anne was probably a very serious thing. He bent down to get her luggage, not breaking eye contact, and held out his hand. Anne looked down at his hand, then inserted her hand into his and they started walking.

Gilbert: Aunt Josephine has rooms for us both. I thought maybe we could spend some time together.

He was met with silence. Worry was taking over every inch of his being. This wasn't his Anne.

Gilbert: I hope you're not terribly displeased about our plan, but we needed to find a way for you to be approved leave.

Anne stopped walking then and closed her eyes.

Anne: So, you were in on this too!

Gilbert turned towards her. He contemplated what he should say that would make her understand just how desperate he was worried about her.

Gilbert: I was. Anne before you get too terribly angry, I want you to know that I love you so very much. After what I just saw, I know that we made the right choice. You can be outraged if you want, I will take full responsibility for that but I needed to be with you. I need to spend time with you.

Anne sighed. She knew that spending time away from school and spending time with the only person she needed was going to help so she let the argument go…. for now. Anne nodded at Gilbert then took his hand, and they continued their way towards Aunt Joe's.

They walked silently back to Aunt Jo's house with Gilbert sneaking glances at Anne. She kept her eyes on the ground the whole-time hardly taking time to look around. Something was terribly amiss, and he had to get to the bottom of it so he could ease his breaking heart.

Gilbert: Anne?

Anne looked up at Gilbert.

Gilbert: I'm terribly worried about you.

Anne shifted her gaze back at the ground.

Anne: I'm okay Gilbert. Just a little….

Anne wracked her brain trying to come up with the right word to use to describe how she was feeling.

Anne: Off…

Gilbert nodded and brought them to a halt right outside the house, so he could really look at her. It was evident that she had lost weight, she had bags under her eyes, it seemed her confidence has wavered, she lost all her attributes that screamed Anne.

Gilbert: You know you can tell me anything right?

Anne looked into his eyes and nodded. He could see that the light was gone from her which worried him even more.

Gilbert smiled and brought her knuckles up to kiss them. Maybe getting her mind off her troubles would be the best thing for her right now, instead of trying to pry it out of her.

Gilbert: Okay. Why don't we get settled, then I would like to spend some time with you? How about a walk and a picnic? I want to catch up and see how things are going at school.

Anne smiled, grateful for the distraction away from herself for a minute.

Anne: That sounds heavenly.

Gilbert smiled and squeezed her hand, walking slowly up the stairs to the door. He opened the door for her to walk in.

Gilbert: Ladies first.

Anne smiled, let go of his hand and walked in with him. Rollings greeted them the instant they set foot in the door.

Rollings: It's nice to see you again Miss Anne, Gilbert.

They both smiled.

Rollings: Why don't I show you to your rooms?

They nodded and followed Rollings. Gilberts room was right across the hall from Anne's. Once they settled their things, they met in the hallway, went to the kitchen to prepare for their picnic and left to start their walk.

Anne: There is a gorgeous garden in the back that leads to a forested area. Would you like to go that way?

Gilbert looked towards her. Even her voice sounded small, which was not like her at all. Her whole demeanor worried him to his very core. Something was devastatingly wrong.

Gilbert: That sounds great my love.

Anne took his hand and lead him to the back of the house. They walked through the garden while Gilbert observed her the whole time. Normally Anne would be commenting about how wonderful everything was down to the colors of the earth, but this time she remained silent, lightly touching the flowers with her fingertips. Not knowing what was going on with her, was driving Gilbert insane because his heart was breaking at the sight of her.

They came to an opening that was between the flowers and the forest.

Anne: This looks like a good spot don't you think?

She turned towards him, catching him staring at her. Gilbert nodded and got the blanket out of the basket to lay it on the ground. He took her hand and mentioned for her to sit down. Once she was situated her took up a spot right behind her, with his legs resting against hers, and her back to his front so he could wrap his arms around her and hold her. Anne sighed into the moment and rested her arms and hands on top of his while closing her eyes. Gilbert's chin rested lightly on her shoulder as he committed this moment to his memory.

Gilbert: Anne, I want you to know that no matter what happens, no matter how far I am physically I will always be here for you.

Anne let a tear run down her cheek. She has been so down in the dumps lately, refusing any sort of comfort from anyone, except Gilbert. He really was her safe place, her comfort, her everything.

Anne: I know

Anne whispered softly and leaned back into Gilbert, so he tightened his grip on her.

Gilbert: When you are ready to talk, I'll be here to listen. I just want to hold you. You make me feel so safe and warm like I am home wherever we are.

Anne turned gently in his arms and kissed him. The kiss was light, but so full of love he thought his heart would burst out his chest. When she pulled away, she looked deeply into his eyes. Everyone around her tried to pry the answers out of her, and that made her burrow deeper into herself. But here was Gilbert. Offering himself as an ear but only when she was ready, on her terms, which is exactly what she needed.

Anne: How is it you know exactly….

Anne shook her head and looked down.

Anne: You know what to say and do to make me feel able to reveal what is in my heart?

Gilbert looked her in the eyes.

Gilbert: Because I love you. I don't know what to say or do half the time, but I know you.

Gilbert cupped her cheek.

Gilbert: No matter what it is, know that my love will always be with you. I hope you can feel it here always.

Gilbert placed his hand over her heart.

Anne leaned in to kiss him again briefly squeezing his hand that he placed over her heart.

Anne: I hope you feel it too Gilbert.

Gilbert smiled.

Gilbert: I do

Anne smiled. It was the first semblance of a real smile since he first saw her earlier today.

Gilbert: Are you hungry?

Anne: Not really.

Gilbert: Well, we went through the trouble to making this beautiful picnic. Could you try to eat? For me?

Anne nodded as Gilbert leaned over to get the picnic basket and put it by them. He really didn't want to move, as they were still really enveloped in each other, and taking comfort from one another, and it seemed Anne didn't want to move either. He pulled up a sandwich and gave it to her and got one for himself. They ate silently, not really needing words now. When Gilbert finished, he peeked at Anne's sandwich smiling, glad to see that she had at least ate half of her sandwich. That would be enough to put him at ease for a bit.

Anne: I don't think I can eat anymore.

Gilbert took the sandwich out of her hands and wrapped it back up to put back in the picnic basket then returned his arms around her to snuggle her.

Gilbert: I could stay like this forever.

Anne: Me too.

Anne leaned back more so that there was not once inch that they weren't touching. They silently sat there letting the time pass them by, when suddenly Anne started to speak.

Anne: I've been depressed lately.

Gilbert stayed silent but squeezed her giving her comfort.

Anne: I'm just so…. heartbroken. I don't feel like I can tell anyone. For so long I didn't have anyone to talk to, so I had to internalize everything and deal with it on my own.

Anne sighed.

Anne: When I was growing up, I couldn't let people know fears, sadness, or basically any emotion because it was a sign of weakness, and weakness wasn't permitted.

Gilbert moved his face so he could snuggle her neck and kissed it softly. Anne looked down at their hands that at some point became intertwined.

Anne: You remember, after you're dad died and I said that you were lucky?

Gilbert moved his head out of her neck and rested his chin lightly on her shoulder wondering where she was going with this.

Anne: I didn't realize at that time that I was the lucky one. You had a bond, and love for your father and you are going to miss him forever. Me, I lost my parents when I was a baby so I couldn't remember anything. It is true that I'm left with wondering 'what if' but I don't feel the emptiness like others do with people they lose. Because I had not lost anyone that I'm close with.

Gilbert turned and kissed her neck again.

Anne: I know now what that feels like.

Gilbert stiffened. He didn't want to push her, he wanted to remain silent so that she would keep talking and open up to him.

Anne: Gilbert…. Last week

Anne looked down and tried to stifle a sob in her throat.

Anne: Matthew and Mirilla were in a carriage accident… They didn't make it.

Anne let out a sob.

Gilbert: Anne….

Anne: I haven't told anyone, I know I need to, but…

Gilbert turned Anne towards him and took in the anguish on her face.

Gilbert: Anne?

Anne: This is the first time I've said it out loud.

Gilbert cupped her face, his heart breaking into a thousand pieces.

Gilbert: How does no one know about this? Haven't they wondered why they haven't been home?

With tears running freely down her face she answered.

Anne: They were set to spend a week in Carmody to remedy Mirilla's eyes. They…

Anne took a deep breath.

Anne: They are supposed to return tomorrow.

Anne cried deeply and Gilbert wrapped her up into him and let her get it out, a few tears escaping him as well trying not to let emotion take over him as well.

Anne: I know I must return to Avonlea to tell everyone, but I don't think I have to strength to do that Gilbert. How…How am I supposed to tell them? I can barely function right now.

Anne let out more sobs.

Anne: And then the funerals? How can I make it through the funerals? I am about to bury the only parents I've ever had.

Anne hugged Gilbert and cried into his neck.

Anne: Oh God! I'm an orphan again!