golden • gilbert bylthe

✨CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE✨

"It still seems unreal. Even though Anne and I just sold all our... Everything. But thank you."

"He's a good man. He offered to help me with my land come spring."

"I love him with all my heart. I don't know what I'd do if...okay, we can we talk about us before this conversation gets depressing?"

"Um, yeah, uh," He stuttered, "W-where do we start?"

"It's quite obvious, Gilly. Why did you leave with saying anything?"

"I felt trapped in Avonlea. I want to explore the world more than anything."

"And I completely understand that."

"I know you do, but, as much I want to leave, there is one thing that makes me want to stay," He looked up into her eyes, "And saying goodbye to her would have me question every choice I make."

"Gilbert, I know a goodbye would be burdensome, but the pain you'll feel, that I'll feel, would be gruesome to the heart."

"I can't say goodbye, Mary," He spoke as tears started to enter his eyes. "Not after my father. I feel like I'm losing you when I say goodbye."

"You're not going to lose me, Gilly," Mary told him as she reached across the table and grabbed his hand, "You can't lose me when I can't lose you."

"Then come with."

"What?"

"Come travel with me. You could get a job in domestic on the boat or something."

"You're insane."

"Maybe, if wanting to share the world with the girl I love is insane then throw me in damn asylum."

"Gilbert, I-I just can't leave I-I."

"What's stopping you?"

"Everything, really. Green Gables is about to go under, Matthew has fallen ill, Marilla is at her wits end with stress, and I can't leave Anne alone in all this."

"But think about the adventure. The stories you can write about. The memories we can make together."

"Gilbert, I would love nothing more than to travel the world with you. It just seems like the stars aren't aligned."

"But how can I leave without you?"

"Probably the same reason I can't stay without you. I want to go, Gilbert, but I'm scared of the repercussions."

"What does your heart want?"

She thought for a moment before she spoke again, "I want to go. I want to be with you, Gilbert Blythe. But I need more time to think."

"I understand that. I'll be working on the docks all day tomorrow when you have your decision." Marigold looked over the boy's shoulder to see a certain redhead peeking through the window. The blonde laughed as she put on her coat to follow Gilbert outside. Anne quickly jumped from the window and acted like she wasn't watching.

"I owe you an apology," She told Gilbert.

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do."

"I should apologize to you."

"No, you shouldn't."

"I was rude."

"But it was my fault."

"Can we please not argue for once?"

"Can you please stop contradicting me? Gilbert, I am very sorry that I wasn't more sensitive about your father, and what losing him really meant for you."

"It's water under the bridge."

"I know so much more now than I did then."

"I should I should go work," Gilbert said as he looked over to Marigold.

"I've missed you," Anne said, causing her sister to snap her head towards her.

"Yeah?"

"At school. There's no one to compete with."

"What about Marigold?"

"Are you kidding me? She'll completely annihilate me."

"You want to spell out a few words for old times' sake?"

"How about "truce"?"

"T-R-U-C-E. Moody would've gotten that wrong."

"He would've!"

"Get away from them!" Jerry yelled out as he appeared from around the corner. He started to attack Gilbert in a way to protect the girls.

"Stop, Jerry! Stop! Stop! We know him!" Anne told him. It wasn't until he stopped fighting that they realized the bruises on his face.

"Jerry, what happened to you?! Are you alright?" Marigold asked as she went to inspect his face.

"I'm fine."

"Come here, come here. Sit down. What happened?"

"I'm so sorry. They took it. The money. Bad guys took the money!"

"What did they look like? I'll care of them myself!" Marigold was fuming.

"I didn't get a good look. I'm so sorry."

"We need to get you to Miss Barry's," Anne said as she and Mary helped him up.

"I don't like the city," He looked at Gilbert, "I remember you now from the big fire. I'm Jerry."

"Gilbert. Need my help with anything? Anything I can do?"

"Just take care of yourself. And come home someday."

"Yeah. Hope everything works out."

"For you, too."

"I'll see you later, Gilly," She said as she wrapped her arms around the boy.

"You have no idea how hard it is not to kiss you right now," He whispered in her ear.

"Trust me, I'm feeling the same way." They pulled away as Gilbert picked up his bag. They group said their goodbyes before the boy walked away.

Leaving Marigold with a big decision.