Remains To Be Seen

War Scars The Minds of Innocent Men

Gilbert
It was a month after I'd sent Anne the letters, I then received one. Though to my surprise it wasn't Bash or Anne. It was Marilla Cuthbert. I opened it eagerly by the candle light. She had gotten my letter before. Bash hadn't been much help with planning for Anne. But Miss Cuthbert has been kind enough to lend an extra word of advice ever so often. She was kind enough to send me updates on Anne. As much as it may have hurt me, I liked knowing.
Marilla gave me the idea of coming home. Having Anne waiting at the train station in suspense. Anne loved an adventure. And it was ever so timed that Diana was visiting Aunt Josephine as well. It worked out in my favor. I'd never get a chance like the one I've gotten.
I read Marilla's letter speaking of how Anne had been struggling with accepting the fact that I'd give everything up for her. That I did give up everything for her. She didn't want that. She felt as if I didn't have to do that for her or anyone else.
"Blythe!" A voice whispered me out of my thoughts.
I jumped dropping the letters looking to the tent entrance. All the men I shared a tent with were laughing. I shook my head and threw a piece of paper at them. They stumbled in half drunk once again. They giggled coming to me at the makeshift desk made of weapon trunks. The group of them hung over my shoulder laughing.
"Writing another unsent letter to your girl back home?" One asked.
"I was going to. But I don't know if I should keep the suspense," I said tapping him on the forehead making him stumble back.
They all had no sense of balance at the moment.
"You all need to sleep that off. We have orders in the morning," I said harshly.
"Yes Doctor Gilly," one said trying to hold back a failed giggle.
"Gilly the Great!" One added enthusiastically the drunkest of the bunch.
"Shut up just because you read my letters doesn't give you permission to use them against me."
"That's exactly what you do when you find a guys love letters he never sends," that was Joseph the soberest one spoke walking to my cot digging where the letters used to hide.
He dug around a bit throwing my things not seeing them.
"Boys...Gilly had grown into a man! He sent the letters to dear Anne," Joseph rejoiced.
The other men joined pulling me from my seat tugging me around playfully. Finally laughing I let myself smile and blush. I had finally gotten the courage to send the letters. They settled down as they began sobering. They all kept asking me questions about Anne. The first time I met her, what I was going to do next time I saw her.
"The 24th, I'm having her go to the train station."
"She's going to meet you there?" The man named Bobby asked.
"The thing is, she doesn't know I'm coming. She thinks I have a gift coming for her."
"Good plan. But does the girl like surprises?"
"I'm not sure Nathaniel. I hope this one is good enough."
"Are you ready for that?" Nathan asked immediately after.
"For what?"
"To see her again. You said you didn't quite leave on good terms," Joseph rationalized.
"I hope the letters changed her mind. But I have hope. It's what she would have if it were her."
They all nodded. Day was about to break and I sent them to sleep with fluids. I rigged them up so they'd feel better in the few hours when we had to get up. I stayed awake panning on writing Marilla back. I finished rigging Bobby up and went towards my desk.
"Is you're really in love with her Blythe. Don't lose her again over petty shit," Joseph croaked tiredly. "Don't pull a Pan again lover boy."
"A Pan?"
"Peter Pan. Child wonder with the fairy and the girl. Tinkerbell always picked him and he picked Wendy. Don't pick Wendy. Pick Tink," he said dozing off.
I nodded. Anne was Tinkerbell. She stood by my side always. I remember the stories of Pan and the Lost Boys. Tinkerbell gave Pan the power to fly and he gave it all for Wendy, and Tinkerbell lost her magic.
I woke them all at daybreak. The Colonel came in as they were pulling out their IV fluids. Water bags as they called them. Or hangover pouches of purity. The boys liked to use that one. The Colonel said our mission was delayed for the day. It gave me time to finish my letter and for the boys to keep sleeping. Eventually Joseph woke up and joined me on my cot. I was reading a book, the same book I've read a hundred times over.
"Hey, let's go take a snapshot," he elbowed me.
I lowered my book annoyed that he bugged my reading. It was one of Anne's other favorite authors. Jane Austen. I liked the book. It was small, convenient and a good read. The description of each character always reminded me of Anne.
"Why?"
"To send to your girl. For her to hold onto or frame."
"Or throw away because my feelings are much stronger than hers."
"I doubt that Blythe. Come on. If anything just be my model. I'm a pictographer now," Joseph said ripping me from my happy place on my cot.
I pulled on the rifle over my shoulder. A precaution we always had to take. We wandered a ways through the field we camped in coming to an overhang. A small town that reminded me of Avonlea. I had heard the snaps of him taking pictures of me and everything else.
"Hey Blythe!" He called causing me to look back with a casual smile.
He snapped a picture and smirked mischievously.
"Since you won't send it I will," he then went running back towards the tent.
I jogged after him but gave up. A little piece of me wanted him to do it. I didn't have the courage to. Then I saw the volunteer postal and I went sprinting. He skidded to a stop outside our tent and I stopped grabbing his shoulder.
"I have a letter."
"As always kid. Who's it for this time?" He chortled as I grabbed my message to Marilla.
"The girl I love, her mother," I answered catching my breath.
"And," he looked to Joseph who was sealing a paper envelope.
"One to his girl. No return address needed my dear friend," Joseph expressed.
"What is it?"
"A picture of her future husband," Joseph teased pulling me to him by the neck.
The postal left and I managed my way from his grip. Joseph laughed as I pushed him away. I'd never missed her this much. Something was different today. I think that town, reminding me of Avonlea, it made my heart ache even more.