Remains To Be Seen

The Great Sacrifice

Josephine
This home had never been so joyous. A different kind of love surrounded the kitchen. Spices I've never smelled infuriated my nose with delight. A delicacy I'd never had before being made in my very own home. The kindest hearts and dearest to me all in the same room. Even if I'd met some just in the last hours they were true. A family I desired. The family I felt with Gertrude. This is what she always talked about. Family being much much more than one person. Though one person can be all you need. More was always merrier in Gertrudes eyes. She used to always beg me to invite my family. She never did meet any of them.
Gertrude would have taken a strong liking to Anne. They had similar minds. Ones that would have changed the world. Not that either hasn't already. Anne was destined to flip the world on its axis. Spin it the opposite direction. She was determined to make change. She had the tools to be unstoppable.
With her new beau at her side, it made that desire ever so strong. He empowered her as she empowered him. They lifted each other up. Took them long enough to realize it. Just as it took Gertrude and I. The chemistry was always there, from the moment we met, from the moment Gilbert and Anne met as well. The forbidden words just weren't said for a long while. Until we all confronted it with ourselves. It took me a long time to find whom I was. Gertrude helped me find myself. And I could never thank her enough for it.

Cole
         "I have an announcement!" Diana shouted over the laughter filled table.
She tapped her glass of cordial with her knife. The laughter slowly settles around the candlelit table. Everyone's focus turning to a slightly buzzed Diana Berry. She adjusted her blue dress and stood up straighter.
          "To add to the joyous occasion, this surprise Gilbert and I have planned for months, I am happy to say I am not going back to Paris," she said plainly.
Anne gasped as she looked to Gilbert to make sense of it. I had a feeling he already knew of it.
          "Instead, I am to attend the Queens Academy!" She said loudly.
Conversation erupted with excitement. Diana seating herself once again. I drew as fast as I willed my hand. As quickly as I could manage. Anne holding Diana's hand talking eagerly of how they are to room together. Gilbert just gazing at the girl he now called his own. Bash calling Gilbert out for staring half the time causing Anne to blush fiercely.
Dinner was raved over by everyone. Gilbert exhausting how much he enjoyed and missed Bash's cooking. Jo stringing in her own commentary with the new tastes she had just acquired here.
       "Well, it is much different than that at home," Gilbert pointed out.
        "Gilly-boy, Miss Berry has much better access to a variety of ingredients. Not just apples, potatoes, and corn," Bash hummed.
        "It's your farm Bash, you can grow carrots if you please," Gilbert shot back.
         "Nah, it's always going to be yours Blythe."
They both sipped their cordial putting the disagreement aside. Settling for unhappy both ways. Miss Stacey took this opportunity for her own announcement. She revealed an envelope and stood proudly. She opened it and read the text.
         "Gilbert Blythe, we are pleased to share that we have decided to accept your application to the University of Toronto!" She smiled. "Gilbert you got in!"
The news was raked how it was thought. The table went silent. All looking to Gilbert. His hand was with Anne's for a moment before he moved it away. Anne watched her heart break as he pulled his presence from hers.
        "I got in?" he nearly whispered in disbelief.
Miss Stacey fumbled with the paper passing it to him. Or she tried to. He didn't take it. But Anne did. She snatched it and read the letter for a long while.
         "A full ride," she said. "In ...Toronto."
I had stopped drawing. I didn't realize the looseness of my grip. My pencil falling to the ground. Everyone hearing the pen drop. Literally. Gilbert stood pushing back his chair.
         "I need a moment," he claimed stepping away from the table.
The look on his face was indescribable. So many emotions you couldn't name it. A hint of excitement. But it was filled by guilt. Heartbreak for Anne yet hope for the best. Deep thoughtful mixed with the pressure of making the right choice. It was closer than Sorbonne. But far from Queens.
Anne has a different look. She was sad. But you could see that she wanted him to follow his dream. That's all she ever wanted. She thought it would've Beene the the Sorbonne. But maybe it's there at U of T.
"I'm gonna start cleaning up," Ruby stated softly.
"We will help," the other girls said.
Bash said he was putting Delphine down to sleep. And I stayed with Anne.
         "What is it?"
         "He should go. It's a full ride," a hint of heartbreak as she spoke the words.
         "He would be leaving you again," I said softly. "He doesn't want that."
          "I need to talk to him."
          "Again?" I groaned.
          "You'll understand one day Cole," she said standing slowly.
She peered around the corner of the doorway looking for him. She stepped slowly as to be quiet. If she were to find him to no disturb his stirring. Jo had come back to the dining room.
        "Sacrifice," she said.
        "What?"
        "That's what it is. Who will sacrifice what to be with the other. Gertrude sacrificed more than I ever could."
         "How so?"
         "Gertrude had no family by the time of her passing. She had been disowned and banished from her home. I was all she had, and I lost nothing."
          "But the love of your life," I said.
         "In time I did. But that love is still here, in this house where we put it. And theirs, they will find something."
         "If they don't?"
         "They will."

A/N: HOLY CRAP! I hit 1k reads 😱😱😱 y'all are so amazing. This has been such a privilege to share my twist on the AWAE series. I am so so excited to continue this journey with you guys 💕 my kindred spirits, you are my lifeline. It's going to be a double publish kind of day because y'all deserve it 😁