Remains To Be Seen

The Longest Tracks Home

Gilbert
It was hot as always. A book in my hand as I lied with my back on the grass. I was awaiting my turn to get on the ride back to Avonlea. They were doing it in groups of men. I was still waiting. I pulled the pen out of my pocket. Clicking it open I smiled. I underlined a sentence in my book. A book from one of my now passed brothers in arms. Jane Austen, Emma, Everyman's Library. Anne would have loved reading the book.
"Blythe! You're up!" one of my commanders called for me.
I hurried to my feet going to the commander's tent. I stood at attention. A few other boys came in. One actually happened to be Billy Andrews. I kept at attention even though I wanted to converse with him. Ask him why he was here.
"At ease," he said causing us all to relax slightly. "You six are all from the town of Avonlea, and under the age of 20. You are all going home boys," he said.
A smile rose on my face.
"Pack your things. You're on the first train out next week afternoon. That means your trek starts in an hour."
We were dismissed and I'd never been more excited.

That was the day I sent the letters.

And now it was real.

I sat on the train filled with military men. We were back in Canada. On our way to Prince Edward Island. On our way home. Home. What a nice word to say. I just hoped my letters had gotten there in time. I hoped she'd come. Anne would come to the station. She had to right. If the letters even made a dent. If the gibberish I wrote in hideous cursive was even sensible. I worried so much that the guys around me started to make fun of me.
The train ride was loud and obnoxious. But it was a joy to see scarred men with laughter filling the cars. Billy was quiet though. A few seats ahead of me and dead silent. Only the real scarred ones were like that. That's at least what Joseph said back then. Before Joseph lost his life. He left for a mission for one night and then he never came back.
I remember the next weeks all too well. John, Joseph's brother had nightmares every night. I'd not have sleep for days. Not a moment to even shut my eyes before his screams woke me. Turning my dreams into nightmares. I got scared. I am scared. My dreams often made Anne occur. His screams turning into hers, haunting my mind like ghosts. The ghost of a memory of her.
I wonder what she looked like now. Her red hair just as fiery and quick witted as her temper. Freckles like stars that spotted her skin. Had she decided blue was her color? Or maybe green? Either color I remember she looked beautiful in. That's what kept me going. The color of her dress. The oceans of her eyes I longed to see.
"Gilbert," a voice spoke.
I blinked looking around to see who said my name. It was Billy Andrews. He was now sitting across from me. He had a scar across his face that was fairly new. Pain etched into his eyes.
"Billy Andrews," I sat up and extended my hand to shake his.
He took my hand and shook it lightly then receding his hands to his lap.
"You chose to be drafted?" I asked.
"I didn't choose. You know my father. Lazy asshole," billy scoffed.
"Well you made it. We're headed home," I said hopefully.
"Yeah to a family who sent me to war. What a great place to call home. They don't even want me."
Billy gazed out the window. He blinked back a tear I knew all too well. Loneliness.
"I know we weren't close towards the end of school, but we used to be. We grew up together billy, now we can say we went to war together and came home together. If you are willing, I got your back Andrews," I said softly.
"Really?" he finally met my eyes sadly.
I nodded. Billy nodded as well. He asked how my side of war was. I didn't say much. It wasn't too good really. But definitely not as bad as Billy's. We got to talking about before. Back before the war. At school.
"And the orphan you totally had a thing for. Anne was it, or Carrots as you called her," Billy chortled.
"Hey, as I said before a cute girl was a cute girl. And Anne is different."
"Wait,wait, you still have a thing for Anne?" Billy gushed.
"Damn right he does!" One of my tentmates, Phillip barged into the conversation. "Loverboy here asked her to be at the train station."
"You wrote to her too?"
"Blythe here wrote 12 love letters to this Anne-girl alone," Phillip said.
"Damn Gilb, I didn't think Anne would make you fall."
We continued to converse about Anne and Billy asked questions. We talked about it all. I hadn't opened up to anyone, yet alone Billy, about Anne that much. But it was good to get out. Especially before I saw her. We were getting close. We stopped at the station before Charlottetown. That's where Phillip got off. We said our farewells and sat anxiously. The car was emptied of a good portion of military men. There were still plenty on but it was significantly less than before. I looked out the window anxiously watching the people pass and turn into trees. Not literally. But Anne would understand.
"My father is going to kill me," Billy stated.
"What?" I looked to him.
"All my life, growing up, my sisters and I had the looks. We had to be that way, look good enough to marry. And now with this scar, I'm going to be disowned."
"Our scars tell our stories, but they don't define us," I quoted Anne.
She had said that when I asked about her scars. The ones that the rumor went on about. The same rumor that was true. But it was different.
"Wise words," billy sighed.
"Some advice from Anne that I remind myself," I hummed.
"Anne said that? Was it that one rumor that went around last year?"
"That's the one. But she's not wrong, they don't define us, they are just apart of us."
I saw the abandoned barn and I knew we were close. And I'd never been more nervous. Billy had gone quiet and stoic. I stood and paced the small piece of floor I had. Billy noticed. He groaned and looked out the window as the train slowed.
"Stop the pacing Blythe. She's been in love with you since the first time you met."
"What?" I was caught off guard.
"Don't worry. She will be there. She is there. You know it as well as I do."
"If she isn't."
"Not possible. Pull yourself together loverboy. We're here."

A/N: OMG! I just began watching AWAE season 3 and I can't. I knew what was coming but I'm still sooooooooo so happy. Also Netflix took down the "final" in season 3. I have hope. As Anne and Gilbert day........
Anyways, enjoy this chapter while I rejoice and continue with the next episode of AWAE

-LM