[1] YOU FOUND ME ( gilbert blythe! )

02 | MEETING ANNE

⎾02 | MEETING ANNE ⏌

IT WASN'T TOO FAR from Diana's house to the Cuthberts', who lived on a quiet farm nestled near the edge of the forest. The dirt road leading there was lined with towering trees, their leaves shifting in the late afternoon breeze. It only took us about ten minutes to walk, but Diana made sure that those ten minutes were as informative as possible.

She spoke quickly, her dark curls bouncing as she listed all the important things I needed to know about Avonlea. The traditions, the people, and, most importantly, the children.

"Here we are!" Diana suddenly announced, pointing ahead to a house that was almost as large as the Barrys'.

It was a lovely, old-fashioned place with a white porch, its railings wrapped in ivy. A barn stood a little ways off, its doors wide open, revealing a boy about our age inside.

The boy noticed us instantly. He straightened from where he'd been stacking hay, brushed the dust from his trousers, and tipped his cap with a warm, boyish grin.

"Hello, ladies." He said kindly.

Diana gave him a simple nod, but I smiled brightly. "Good day."

For a moment, the boy just stared, blinking as though no girl had ever spoken to him so directly before. Then, his grin widened, a flicker of amusement crossing his face. I giggled and continued toward the house, feeling his eyes focus on us as we walked past.

When we reached the porch, Diana knocked on the door, and we waited. A few moments later, a woman appeared.

"Why, hello, Diana. I wasn't expecting you today," she said, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Is Anne available?" Diana asked. "This is my cousin, Samantha. She just moved in with us, and I wanted her to meet Anne."

The woman turned her warm gaze toward me. "Well, of course! Come on in, girls." She stepped aside, gesturing for us to enter.

"Thank you, Ms. Cuthbert." Diana said.

The house had a cozy warmth to it, with wooden floors and floral curtains framing the windows. The air smelled of baked bread and something faintly sweet, like honey.

"Anne! Come down here, Diana and a friend have come to visit." shouted Ms. Cuthbert, while setting down a plate of tea.

"Would you like some tea?" Ms. Cuthbert asked.

"Yes, please. Thank you," I said, sitting beside Diana as she poured us each a cup.

Suddenly, a rush of footsteps echoed from upstairs. The sound grew louder, thundering down the staircase until, at last, a girl appeared at the bottom.

Anne Shirley.

She was smaller than I'd expected, thin but lively, with bright red hair that twisted in two braids. Freckles covered her pale cheeks, and her large, expressive eyes glistened with curiosity. There was something instantly magnetic about her, like she carried an entire world within her mind that she was desperate to share.

"Diana!" Anne beamed, rushing forward to envelop Diana in a tight hug. "I've missed you dreadfully! It feels like ages since I last saw you."

Diana laughed, hugging her back. "It's only been two days, Anne."

"Exactly, an eternity." Anne released her, then turned to me with open curiosity. "And who is this?"

"Anne, this is my cousin, Samantha Darling," Diana introduced, gesturing toward me.

I stepped forward and extended my hand with a friendly smile. "Hello, Anne. It's nice to meet you."

Anne examined me, then smiled, "It's pleasant to meet your acquaintance as well, Samantha. I love that name. Darling, what a precious surname."

"You use very descriptive words, I admire that." I said and giggled, causing the rest of us to giggle as well.

Anne gasped, clutching her hands together. "Oh, thank you! So many people tell me I talk too much, but I simply must express things the way I feel them."

Diana chuckled. "She really must."

Anne turned her gaze back to me. "So, where have you come from?"

"Near Kingston," I replied, taking a small sip of my tea. "Although we lived on a ranch outside of town."

"A ranch!" Anne's eyes widened. "Oh, how romantic! I imagine galloping horses, endless fields, and sunsets that paint the sky in breathtaking colors. Was it like that?"

I hesitated, my fingers tightening slightly around my teacup. "In some ways, yes."

Anne must have noticed the shift in my expression because her voice softened. "Why did you leave?"

I glanced at Diana before turning back to Anne. "I'd rather not talk about it," I admitted gently. "All I want is to begin a new life, if that makes sense."

"Of course!" Anne beamed, standing up. "A new life, a fresh start, who wouldn't want that? I think it's a wonderful idea."

Before I could respond, she suddenly leaped to her feet and twirled around the kitchen as if she were performing on a grand stage. "What a thrilling adventure!"

Diana and I exchanged amused glances, laughing as Anne continued to twirl.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of conversation and laughter. Anne led us through the farm, weaving stories from her imagination as we walked through the fields and explored the forest beyond. I had never met anyone like Anne before. She was different, that was certain. But it was the good kind of different — the kind that made the world feel bigger and brighter than before.

And as I listened to her stories and watched the way she saw magic in the ordinary, I wondered if maybe...she could teach me how to live again.