Remains To Be Seen

The Leaves Sing Beside The Sun

Gilbert
Anne has come out of the schoolhouse. All her friends were staring at us on the other side of the glass pane. She gasped and shooed then away. Anne requested a stroll. I wasn't one to back down. Lunch was to be over soon so we had to make it quick.
"So why the sudden stroll?" I questioned.
"I needed to speak to you."
"About?"
She stopped and I grabbed both of her hands facing her.
"This," she said.
I looked at our hands and us standing in that moment. I had the same questions. But I was going to wait for a better time to consult what it is. What this was going to be. I had every intention of courting her one day in the future. For her, I don't know where she stands.
"I uhh...we're talking about this now huh?" I said.
"The girls told me to," she shook her head.
"I knew we would need to pick up the conversation at one point. But I didn't expect it so soon."
"Again the girls idea."
"I like where we are at for the moment. When the opportunity arises we will talk about it again. How about that?"
"Oh good. I like where we are too. I don't want anything to change right now and I'm so astoundingly glad you feel the same."
"To class?" I offered my arm.
"Why thank you," she said taking it gingerly.
Jokes passed back and forth as we made way to the schoolhouse. The bell rang and we headed back inside. He departed from my arm like a ship from the dock. Heading to her sea of friends as I stay on my side of the room. I longed to be able to stand by her side amongst her friends. And the same with her beside mine.
Class went by like slow motion. Anne dared to answer each question Miss Stacey would ask. I didn't feel so competitive. After class I decided to walk home alone. Anne walked alongside Diana and Ruby today. It was best not to tear her from her friends. It also gave me plenty of time to think.
I looked up at the trees and they sky for answers. Hoping maybe they would come. I searched for the answers amongst the leaves that sang with the sky. Hoping they would hum an answer to my questions. The desires of mine I begged an answer for.
The sky didn't have the answers. Nor did the leaves. Or the song that whistled through them. I wonder what Anne was pondering. What her wild mind was thinking. Had she noticed me taking the backseat in the classroom? Did she wonder if it was her fault. It wasn't. But did I make it seem that way.
I couldn't even turn out those answers by the time I got home. I was late. Bash immediately grilled me on my location. I didn't have the heart to tell him my thoughts and provocations. But Mary, she had a way with words that reminded me of Anne. Which must be why Bash sent her to interrogate me.
"Anne is on your mind," she began.
"How could you tell?"
I set my books on my desk putting my homework off until later. She sat on my bed and patted a spot beside her.
"She has this way of making you overthink. And you get this look on your face. Either of pure joy and happiness or a deep and dark despair of your thoughts. What is it?" Mary asked.
"I don't even know where to begin."
"What's got your mind in a twist?"
I knew exactly what it was. Time couldn't go by fast enough. Our lives couldn't start quicker. It seems ever since I'd confessed my feelings time has slowed down. I can't think of anything to do with it all. And it's not the same as it was before that day.
    "Mary I've never felt so strongly for someone like I do for Anne. All that I see is the rest of my life with her. But the moments have seemed to slow and I can't bear another life of baby steps and lies."
"Another life?"
"My father lied until he was on his deathbed. He had been sick for a long time, everyday was like his last and I don't want that with the girl I'm in love with. Whom I love with more than my heart."
   "What is more than your heart Gilbert?"
"My life. I will live for her. I will die for her. I only want the rest of my days with her by my side and I don't want this stupid in between anymore. But it's what she wants."
"Are you sure it's what she wants?"
"She said she never wanted anything to change from how it is. But that's all I want."
At this point I had stood and been pacing the room. Mary had a look on her face. One she gave Bash countless times.
"You already have courting in mind don't you?"
I stopped my pacing. Turning to face the one and only motherly figure I've ever had the gift or receiving. Was it a motherly instinct to know what your children were thinking. Knowing the thoughts of your family members like they are your own. Would my mother have known me just as well, to know myself more than I know. The same way Anne knows me. The way Bash knows me.
Bash knows me through and through. As well as my very own father. He was like another father to me, as well as a brother. He knew when I denied having a girl back here on the steamboat, I still dreamt of having one. The one. He knew the care and love I had for Anne. What I still have for her. He knew her fiery temper and insane amount of intelligence only made me more interested.
"There's not much to say but this," Mary said.
I went to her and she grabbed my hand keeping my attention close. Her eyes picked mine apart and burned the next words into my mind.
"Remember what I told you. If you are to marry, you marry for love. And only for love. Alright?"
I nodded. She pulled me into a hug just as the curry spices spilt under the door. It filled our noses with joy knowing Bash was cooking a special meal for the night. He only does ever so often that it excites us both when he gets in the cooking mood. And his dishes are always made with beauty and preciseness. A homey feel to each meal. It always made the day better when he'd made his warm meals. They never have failed to turn my day around.

This day was in desperate need of a turn around.

A/N: hey fellow Kindred Spirits! I am going to be publishing a few chapters really close together. The next two weeks are my finals weeks and I'm trying to pass my first semester of college 😂 Hope you enjoy!