Young love (Gilbert Blythe)

༄New but old༄

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CHAPTER ONE:

{New but old}

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YOU can feel the cool air piercing your face, no more scorching sun.

The first leaves of autumn have begun to fall gently to the ground, the kids, including me, stepping on them to hear that satisfying crunch.

Autumn has always been one of my favourite seasons. The perfect weather, the vibrant colours of the trees that make me feel like I'm in a fairy tale, the air that suddenly feels much cleaner. How can you not love it?

This autumn also heralds a new beginning for me and my family. One full of hope.

A new life, but in a place I know better than myself. New but old? How does that work?

A new life in a place I tried to forget, to erase from my memory. But how could I, when the most beautiful memories of my life lie there? Although... alongside those beautiful memories, nightmares easily creep in, some that I couldn't escape. That followed me wherever I went, and that stole my nights, not letting me close my eyes.

But nevertheless, I must return.

For two years, I stayed with my aunt, who welcomed me with open arms when my mother and father decided to rebuild our old house. It was hard at first, being away from my parents while they worked on the new house, but I didn't want to stay in Avonlea anymore. I wanted to escape it, to forget it. So I insisted on coming to my aunt's, and I made a compromise with my parents that I would return when the house was ready to live in. And now the time has come.

It will be difficult to go back to revisit all those places where so many memories are buried, but I have no choice. I promised I would, and I don't want to disappoint my family by staying here, especially after they struggled to save money for a house with everything we needed.

I pack the last remaining dress into my suitcase, my gaze settling on the small framed black and white photograph that sits on my nightstand. The picture shows three children, two girls and a boy, a man, and a white horse with brown spots behind them. My sister, Emma, ​​and her best friend, Gilbert, smiling from their horses, and me and his father, John, holding the reins of the horse. That was one of the best days of my life, full of laughter and jokes.

I take the frame, slipping it under a dress that was already in the suitcase so I don't accidentally break it in the carriage.

"You're annoyingly slow." My cousin's voice makes me jump, not realizing that he's entered the room, too absorbed in my own thoughts.

"And you still haven't learned how to knock." I answer, zipping up my suitcase.

"It's my house, I shall enter in any room whenever I want."

"It's Aunt Pen's house. She pays the bills, not you." My lips arch in a grin, turning to face him.

"Yes, yes, supper is ready." He disappears into the hallway, me following him.

I spent the evening with my aunt and cousin, but also with my parents, who came two days ago

to bring me back to my hometown. I try to enjoy my last evening here fully, knowing that