A New Beginning || Gilbert Blythe x Oc ||

Chapter 15

"Shh! Not so loud," Josie cautioned, her eyes glinting with the thrill of sharing something deeply personal. "I got mine three months ago, and I feel extremely mature."

Diana, with her ever-supportive and gentle demeanor, nodded in agreement. "You seem mature," she commented, her words wrapping Josie in a blanket of validation.

"You do," Tillie chimed in, her voice soft yet earnest, as Lydia offered a silent nod, her gesture speaking volumes of her agreement and support.

Josie leaned in closer, lowering her voice even more as if their circle could shield their conversation from the world outside. "I think the boys take me more seriously, too," she confided, a hint of pride lacing her words.

The topic veered into uncharted territories, sparking a mixture of curiosity and concern. "But they can't tell. Can they tell?" Anne's voice was tinged with worry, her imagination likely conjuring up all sorts of embarrassing scenarios.

Josie shook her head, her confidence unshaken. "Not tell, per se," she said, choosing her words carefully. "But I'm not a little girl anymore, and I believe that's noticeable." Her declaration was both a claim to her own evolving identity and a beacon for her friends navigating the same journey.

"My bosoms are growing," she added with a matter-of-factness that was both bold and brave in the eyes of her peers.

Anne, ever the one to ponder the deeper meanings, couldn't help but comment, "Yet another reason why this is inexplicable." Her words danced around the complexity of their shared experiences, touching on the bewildering nature of growing up.

Diana then shared her own experience, her voice steady, "I got mine last year," a confession that seemed to draw the circle even closer.

"Me, too," Tillie added, her simple admission serving as yet another thread weaving through their shared tapestry of adolescence.

"Me three," Lydia contributed to the conversation, a soft admission that she, too, had crossed the threshold they were all speaking of. Her eyes, however, drifted to Ruby, whose expression was clouded by a visible upset.

"Really?" Ruby's voice trembled, a mixture of disbelief and sorrow lacing her words.

"My father has started opening the door for me," Diana shared a hint of pride in her voice over this new sign of respect. Lydia nodded in agreement, acknowledging the truth in Diana's observation.

"I can't wait until I can wear my hair up," Josie chimed in, her voice light, dreaming of yet another milestone in their journey toward adulthood. The girls' laughter filled the room, a brief respite from the gravity of their discussion.

But a softer sound cut through the merriment—Ruby's sniffling. Lydia, ever attentive, turned her full attention to Ruby, her concern mirrored in her voice. "Ruby, what's wrong?"

The girls' laughter faded, replaced by a collective worry as they all turned to Ruby. The room held its breath.

"I'm not a woman," Ruby cried out, her voice breaking with each word. "Why don't I have it?"

Anne, ever the outspoken one, attempted to lighten the mood. "Trust me, if I could give you mine, I would," she said, perhaps too loudly. "This is so inconvenient!"

"Hush, Anne!" Diana's admonition was swift, her eyes darting around to ensure their conversation remained private.

"Keep your voice down!" Josie added, her concern for their secrecy evident.

"No one's supposed to know," Tillie whispered, reinforcing the delicacy of their topic. "A woman's cycle is a shameful thing."

Anne's question hung in the air, innocent yet laden with the weight of centuries of taboo: "Why?"