wondrous • gilbert blythe

hardest goodbye

"Adelaide! Oh, how joyous I am to see your wonderfully beautiful face! I missed you so much, are you okay, I cannot imagine being in your shoes. You are single handedly the most brave person I have ever known. Not that I know too many people-" Anne's blue eyes widened when she saw her dear friend. She stopped rambling, which she seemed to have a problem with, as soon as she saw the overwhelmed look on Adelaide's face.

"I missed you, Anne." Adelaide said before hugging her best friend tightly. Both girls smiled brightly whilst in one another's embrace. "I am afraid I have some terrible news." Adelaide started off. She wanted this to be over as quick as possible. Saying goodbye to her best friend was so much harder than she ever imagined it could be.

"Oh no, what is it? Is everything okay?" Anne's eyes grew a worrisome look to them, and Adelaide grimaced as she tried to spit the words out.

How does one say this? She had not known Anne for longer than half a year, but their friendship felt like they had met a very long time ago. Therefore, breaking a friendship that was settled deep down in one's soul was much harder than a simple friendship that had recently been kindled.

Adelaide's thoughts raced throughout her mind. She could not think of a single word to say. Would Anne be as upset as she was? Adelaide couldn't focus no matter how many times she told herself that it would be alright.

Anne shook her friend out of the daze she was stuck in. Anne had to repeat what they were talking about three times for Adelaide to understand what she needed to tell her. Her mind turned to panic once again, but she quickly spit out what came to thought first. Nothing could change what was going to happen. It was inevitable, no matter how her best friend reacted.

"I have to leave Avonlea. I'm being sent to an orphanage." The sentence left a horrid aftertaste in her mouth, and she felt the tears she had been pushing down for days begin to rise once again.

Anne opened her mouth, but quickly shut it after realizing she did not know what exactly to say. Her heart felt as if it had been ripped apart. Adelaide was a close friend, whom she was not ready to lose. Anne knew that her friend had already been through so much, and she held so much sympathy for her.

"I am so sorry, but we can spend our last moments together wisely. We can explore and make the best memories-" Anne smiled and explained, but Adelaide was quick to cut her off.

"I leave today, Anne. Today."

Anne started to cry. They had no time left.

"Well, Adelaide, it seems our friendship is being put on the line." The two girls hugged again, and Adelaide nodded into Anne's shoulder. Anne pulled away and grabbed her friends shoulders, looking her directly in the eyes.

"We cannot let this tear us apart, okay? We will see one another again, may it be days, months, or even years. I'll wait for you, here." Adelaide nodded, afraid that if she spoke, she would cry.

They hugged and talked quietly for another half hour or so, and it was time for Adelaide to venture on. Anne made sure to give her a copy of "the best book she had ever read" so Adelaide would have something to remember her by. Anne signed the inside, making Adelaide smile nostalgically.

may your dreams become reality
love, Cordelia

Nothing could stop the girls from finding each other again, not even some stupid orphanage.

Adelaide and Anne looked at one another for the last time, and Adelaide finally left. She made sure to hug Matthew and Marilla on the way out, making them promise to take good care of Anne. They complied and kissed Adelaide's rosy cheeks goodbye. She waved a last goodbye to Jerry, silently thanking him for being there for her all of those times. He nodded as if he understood what she was thinking.

Adelaide left the premises of Green Gables swiftly. She knew what was coming next. She hadn't talked to Gilbert in what felt like years. How was he?

She inwardly groaned when she thought of how selfish she had been. How hadn't she realized that he was dealing with his own grief? Adelaide was too busy moping and worrying about herself that she didn't have time to think about how other people felt, especially Gilbert.

Adelaide started to jog in the direction of the Blythe home. It was now or never, and she needed to make this goodbye a good one.