Sometime after midnight, Anne reached the final page, regretfully said her last goodbyes to Elsie, and shut the book.
She sat in the dark for a few moments, her troubled face shadowy in the flickering candlelight.
What else could she do?
She didn't feel any closer to sleep than she had before.
She was tired- it wasn't a matter of not being tired. She was tired enough at this very moment to sleep for a hundred years like Briar Rose.
She began twisting her hair around her fingers. She had been with the Hammonds during the births of two of Mrs. Hammond's children. She hadn't actually seen anything herself, she'd been expected to keep the other children occupied in another room while the doctor was with Mrs. Hammond.
But she'd heard plenty.
She hated the thoughts that were coming into her mind. She needed distraction, and quickly.
Breaking her promise to Marilla, she went down and took some of Marilla and Matthew's books out of the cupboard and brought them upstairs to her room.
Tales of Christian Endurance, she thought. That's the one I'll read. It sounds as dull and unimaginative as it could possibly sound...it just might get me to sleep.
She opened it, took a deep breath, and began reading.
Besides, maybe some endurance would be good right now.
YOU ARE READING
In the Woods When First We Met
FanfictionGilbert is there for Anne when she needs someone the most. Billy did far more damage than seen in the episode. Anne goes through my own journey of healing after a trauma. Serious issues. (Skip chapters 3-4 to make it less scary to read; if you skip...
