#saveawae4

My Anne with an E,

I definitely deserved it. I confess, you ensnared me the moment I first saw you but I think it was when you broke your slate over my head that I began to love you. And having been in love with you for so long, I was beginning to think I’d never hear you say those words and now that you’ve written them to me, a part of me fears this is all a dream.

I apologize I haven’t written to you sooner. The first few days of class were incredibly hectic and I did not want to write you until I was caught up and was able to pay your words the rapt attention they deserve. You must know that I love you–that I am wholeheartedly in love with you, Anne Shirley-Cuthbert.

I ended my relationship with Winifred because I realized that the person I truly love is you. It always has been and always will be you. I am truly sorry for any grievance my ignorance has caused. Please consider my apology all-inclusive and diligently inform me of any offences that require special attention. I’m determined to learn the same lesson you’ve learned on relying on truth and not assumption. Regarding your case with my first letter and your offenses to me, please know it’s all water under the bridge. And a source of amusement to me now.

I cannot express how glad I am to hear about your parents. I look forward to meeting them in the pages of your mother’s book and learning the language of the flowers in which the three of you have mastered fluency. As for the Aster you sent with your letter, I keep it on my desk, safely enclosed in a picture frame. Thank you. I look at it when I need to be reminded there is good in the world because it makes me think of you and of home.

You’ll find with this letter a handful of chamomile flowers. For our first assignment in Herbology class, students were tasked to gather edible plants and flowers. We learned to clean, dry, preserve, and use the substances to make basic natural remedies and teas. Since it is beginning to cool in Toronto, I reckon it’s definitely become breezy on the Island. Please take the liberty of sharing the chamomile tea with your housemates as a preventative for colds, and perhaps your housekeeper as well, seeing that she will need help getting a good night’s sleep with you girls under her roof. I hope to earn her good graces in preparation for my future visits. Give Moody and Charlie my warm regards; I hope they’re staying out of scrapes. I forgot to thank Diana for confronting me on the train that fateful day, so please extend my deepest thanks and gratitude for her honesty and boldness.

Toronto and its people are diverting. There is always something to see and do, which is a happy distraction from the loneliness that accompanies me in a large city. I have made some friends, but few good ones. Kindred spirits are hard to come by, even in a university as large as U of T. I’ll have you know that Dr Emily Oak is a kindred spirit and in her thirties, so you needn’t worry about her, or any other. You are the fond object of my affection and desire, Anne, and the only keeper of the key to my heart.

Kiss Delly for me when you visit and give everyone my love. I have to warn you, Bash was over-the-moon after I wrote to him about us and I don’t think he’s recovered from his hysterics and gloating. I also wrote to Matthew and Marilla soon as I arrived at Union Station, and I have received their blessing to court you. Jerry Baynard even took the time to write a post script at the end of the Cuthberts’ letter, with a friendly warning to me. I laughed aloud when I saw he spelled your name with a capital E and had to explain to my roommate, Benjamin Frederick Wright, the reason for my outburst. What incident brought on Jerry’s exaggerated emphasis on the spelling of your name? 

I feel the bittersweet nostalgia of the past, same as you. But I also take comfort in knowing that we always carry these memories with us through life. Some experiences are pleasant and some are dreadful, but it takes both to grow a person. When I find living in Toronto difficult, I think of my father, of dear Mary. The joy and pain of their memory keeps me going. I pray your memories will give you the same grace. Your very existence has brought life to Avonlea and will bring hope to Charlottetown and I am hopeful it will extend the same blessings to you.

You’ve answered my most pressing questions so I offer you this one: May I visit you at Queen’s on one of the harvest weekends? I don’t have a definite date planned yet, but perhaps we could travel to Avonlea together when I come calling. Bash anticipates good crop on the farm this year, and I promised I’d help him with the harvest. I’m sure he’ll take every opportunity to tease me about you then.

Ben just threatened to give me a bunch of fives and a black eye if I don’t turn off my lamp soon–the poor man cannot sleep with any light on, which surprises me because he is from the city–so I must end my letter here. He might not seem kindred at first acquaintance, but I assure you he is. That story is for another time. I’ll be seeing you, Carrots.

With all my love,

Gilbert

P.S. word of the day: Resfeber (Swedish) - the restless race of the traveller's heart before the journey begins, when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together.

P.P.S. If you are challenging me to a long-distance duel of fascinating words, be forewarned: Ben has an excellent foreign vocabulary dictionary which I’ve been given permission to borrow for the sole purpose of battling you, so prepare to accept defeat.

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This is Letter 2! To read Letter 1: Anne’s letter to Gilbert, click here

To read Anne’s reply letter or more awae shorts, click here to access my index!

Anne Shirley-Cuthbert started from the bottom as an orphan with an abusive past who did not have much experience with school and had none with long division. she pushed forward despite all obstacles, despite a teacher who humiliated her, despite Avonlea believing she was trash and not worth the time nor effort when she first came, despite proving her worth time and again and still being looked down on, despite recently realizing she was in love with a boy with whom she developed a beautiful friendship only to have her heart broken thinking he didn’t love her back, despite the many changes this time of her life thrust upon her—despite all these things, Anne Shirley-Cuthbert rose from it all and placed first

Gilbert Blythe was two years behind in school when he returned to Avonlea after traveling with his ill father, losing his childhood and a lot of the connection he had with his friends, and being the oldest in Anne’s section not just in years but in life experience. he endured the death of his father and went off to travel the world alone and returned with a brother who would later marry a beautiful woman and friend he’d have to witness die. yet Gilbert Blythe rose up from it all. he chose not to marry Winifred even though doing so would hand him his dream to become a doctor on a silver platter, choosing instead to work hard and go where his passions would lead him and to marry for love, and rose from it all and placed first