Anne with an e- a new version of the story

CHAPTER 92 - The Future in our hands

ANNE

Anne looked out of the window and saw Gilbert arriving. It was his last night in Avonlea, because the next day he was leaving for New York for his classes, which started on Tuesday morning.

She was sad, but not as sorry as when he had traveled the first time. Anne knew that he would be back next weekend, and that they would only be apart for a few days, although his absence would be felt all the same. Gilbert had been her support all this time, and Anne was preparing to walk alone from now on.

She was no longer a little girl, she was a grown woman despite her young age. What she had experienced so far had transformed her from the red-haired, freckled girl who wanted nothing more than a family from the world, into the woman who had fallen and was now getting up slowly and carefully, looking for herself first. She still wanted a family, but now her own that she would form with Gilbert at some point in her life, that was the only certainty she had now, because she had decided that she would have her biological children or not, and she would let life determine that for her. She hadn't opened the tests yet, but the time would come when she would have to, she was just getting stronger inside, trying to find her balance and then she would be ready for whatever came.

He wouldn't torture himself with it any longer. It was time to move on, for her, for Gilbert and for the love that had always been her refuge and her inspiration. She hadn't left an orphanage, leaving a miserable life behind, to let the world beat her like that. Her princess Cordelia was somewhere inside her, Anne just needed to find her and bring her out along with all the hopes and dreams she had once had for herself

It wasn't an easy process, she knew, but she had already walked half the way with Gilbert by her side, now she needed to walk the remaining kilometers alone, to find the part of herself that had been lost among her pain and despair, and to go back to being the person she had been before with so many dreams in her heart. She had promised Gilbert that she would think about the therapist, and she had come to the conclusion that he might be right. She needed to get out of that process of sadness and guilt, and a professional could help her with that, she didn't want to live in that empty shell anymore, Gilbert deserved to have back the woman he had fallen in love with and she would do anything to get her back.

Anne opened the door and greeted the evening's guest with a smile, and received an even more beautiful smile from Gilbert. He brought her hands to his lips and with his eyes shining said:

  - Every time I see you, you're even more beautiful. It's as if you're blossoming before my eyes.

- You're always so poetic, my love. For someone who said you weren't good at poetry, you've outdone yourself lately. - Anne said, admiring his face with its strong features, which stood out even more in the dim light of the balcony.

- You're the one who makes words come out of my mouth like that. - he said gallantly, and Anne felt his charm hit her full on. How he still managed to do that to her, Anne would never know, it was as if every day she also found new characteristics in Gilbert that made her fall more and more in love with him. Gilbert had even more layers than Anne, and every time she uncovered one, more interesting ones emerged, showing her just how deep her fiancé was. Nothing was superficial about Gilbert, not a look or a word, she couldn't say that he didn't have faults, because every human being has some, but even so, he was perfect in her eyes and his small faults were nothing compared to the extraordinary person he was.

- I think I'd better go in. Marilla is already waiting for us for dinner. She's made that soup you like so much. - Anne said as Gilbert entered the Cuthberts' cozy living room, and Anne took him into the kitchen to talk to Marilla.

- Good evening, Mrs. Cuthbert. - Gilbert said, and Marilla, who was busy checking her roast in the oven, turned to him with a pleased smile on her face and said: