Edward settled in the seat next to Anna. She already had her reader out and was going over the poem for the day. God she smelled so good. She paused for a moment from her reading and looked over at him.

"I heard about your father," she tilted her head so that a few strawberry locks framed her face. "I'm so sorry." Her voice had a hint of an Irish accent and her words, though simple, were full of sincerity.

I looked down at my desk and nodded once. "Thank you. We're managing alright."

She nodded in understanding and looked back at her book. That was all she had to say about the matter. She didn't feel the need to fill the air with insincere condolences like so many others did throughout the day.

Edward managed to focus on his studies despite the quiet beauty that held his interest for so long.

One day during lunch, he noticed her seated on a grassy area looking at a book in her lap.

Finally willing to take a chance, he casually strolled over to her.

"Studying during lunch?" he stood over her, casting a shade over the page in her book.

"Studying? Oh…no," she laughed nervously and blushed. "Just some pleasure reading."

"Oh?" he sat down across from her and began tossing his apple up and down in his hand. "What is it?"

Though confused at the sudden attention, Anna held up the book so Edward could see the title.

"Anne of Green Gables. What do you think so far?"

"Well… it's not quite the fairy tale I thought it would be. It's really just a simple orphan girl who can't seem to find anywhere to unleash her imagination. I think that would be very frustrating, don't you?" She had closed her book and was leaning forward now.

"Well," he pondered the thought for a moment, pretending to study his untouched apple. "I suppose everyone needs to have dreams. But sometimes reality itself is so hard to believe that you lose your ability to imagine anything other than what is staring you in the face."

She nodded like she always did. "It must be very hard for you. Do you have brothers and sisters?"

He shook his head.

"Your mother, is she still with you?"

"She is still living, yes. I'm afraid she worries too much about me. I don't want her to stop caring about herself."

With that the bell rang. Edward stood up and reached out his arm, offering Anna his hand. She reluctantly placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her to her feet.

After Arithmetic and History, the students were free to go. He gave Anna a polite goodbye then headed to his after school job. Edward worked at a small drug store between the school and his home. Mr. Chavers, the owner saw Edward as a very hard worker and always tried to help him out as much as he could.

"Edward, that'll be it for today, son," he said as he pulled some cash out of the register and handed it to Edward. "There's a little extra in there, give my condolences to your mother for me?"

"Yes sir I will. Thank you," he looked down and humbly took the stack of bills and took his apron off.

On the walk home he couldn't help but glance into the windows of the lower level apartments lining the downtown Chicago streets. He was comforted knowing that he was not alone in his struggles.

The city had families of every kind, no mother, no father, siblings caring for younger siblings, poor families and abusive parents. Though he hated the way he felt, he felt much better knowing that people wouldn't look at him any different for not having a father. He still had a chance to please his dad and become as good a man as he was.

With that, Edward Masen held his head high and felt proud for the first time in his life. He was studying hard, building a future to make something of his life and he was providing for his mother.

"Edward, you're home early!" his mother gleefully greeted her son. She worked as a seamstress during the day and by evening her eyes looked strained and exhausted.

He smiled gently and handed her the money he made that afternoon.

"Oh Edward, that is yours. I don't need your money. You go spend it on something for yourself."

"No," he replied simply. "I am giving it to you for us. I promised Father."

Elizabeth sighed as he placed the money in her hand and holding both his hands on hers.

The next day Edward could not help but be excited to see Anna again. He never really took an interest in any girls, though many were interested in him. And he certainly never thought the first girl to catch his attention would be quiet book reader.

After school he managed to catch her as she was on her way out.

"May I walk with you?" he politely asked.

"Well…sure but I'm not going home," she explained. "I like to walk in the park after school while the weather is still fairly warm."

"I would love to join you if you don't mind?"

"Not at all," she smiled as he offered her his arm.

"What do you want to do with your life? You know after you get out of here?" she questioned as they strolled along the pathway weaving through the small park nestled in the middle of the city.

"Medical school hopefully. I'm good at the sciences and I'd love to be able to care for people." Edward smiled as he spoke of his passion. "What about you? Writer perhaps?"

Anna shrugged. "I really don't know, Edward."

He loved when she said his name.

"It's overwhelming. My mother had no opportunities in Ireland. Now that I've reached this point, I feel like I'm at a cross roads in life and now I just don't know where to go from here." She stopped walking and stood to face Edward. "I know I'm not making any sense," she laughed as a blush tinted her fair face.

"You're making perfect sense," he whispered into her ear and brushed a small kiss on her cheek.