Long Distance Love Letters

A Parting Isolation

Anne and Gilbert walked through Charlottetown as slowly as humanly possible, making it so that the fellow pedestrians had to walk around them to continue on with their busy lives. Anne wanted to hold his hand but Gilbert was making it a point to keep his distance.

Anne did not want to leave Gilbert again. Not now that they were engaged. Not now that she was still gravely concerned for his health.

Finally, despite their unwillingness to separate, they arrived at the train station.

Anne heaved a sigh as they turned to each other. "Do you have to leave?"

Gilbert exhaled softly. "I'm afraid so." He smiled. "But I'll see you in two weeks when you come to Toronto."

Anne took a deep breath. "Yes. Right. Two weeks." Her voice didn't sound entirely convincing but Gilbert didn't seem to notice.

There was a moment where she could tell that he wanted to kiss her or hug her, but he restrained himself.

"Don't want you catching my bug," he reminded, putting his hands in his pockets, but not before Anne could catch a glimpse of the tiny rash forming on the top of his right one.

She forced a smile. "Right."

They both turned as final boarding was called.

He gave her a meaningful smile. "Alright, I have to go. I love you."

Despite the less than favorable circumstances, her heart swelled. "I love you, too."

He reached out and gave her hand a very quick squeeze before boarding the train.

She waved goodbye to him and he waved back from his seat as the train slowly rolled away.

Once the locomotive was out of sight, Anne took a shaky breath and turned back towards town. Back towards Queens.

Twisting her engagement ring around on her finger was her only source of comfort.

•••

As soon as Gilbert couldn't see Anne any longer, he let out a large breath, feeling fear creep into his system again as he wiped sweat from his forehead.

He felt as if he were going to have a heat stroke from his abnormally high temperature.

He inhaled uncertainly, praying to God he was overreacting.

•••

A week passed, and Anne was able to finally find some distraction from her worry about Gilbert. Her studies were picking up again and she was enjoying the feeling of being in a new century. Not to mention everyone was complimenting her engagement ring.

Anne was just finishing up her last chapter for her professional writing class when there was a knock on the door.

She went over and opened it to reveal Mrs. Blackmore.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Shirley," she greeted.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," Anne replied, subtly trying to better her appearance as she was not expecting such proper company.

"You have a visitor in the parlor," Mrs. Blackmore informed. "He wishes to speak with you right away."

Anne forced herself not to her her hopes up as she nodded and followed her downstairs.

As she entered the parlor, her visitor was revealed to be someone she did not expect.

"Dr. Ward," Anne said in surprise. "Hello."

"Hello, Anne," he greeted politely, but there was a sense of urgency in his voice. "I have come to deliver some unfortunate news, but I'm afraid I must leave immediately afterwards."

Anne felt her heart rate pick up. "What is it?"

He exhaled. "I just received a telegram from the medic at the University of Toronto."

His next words made Anne's racing heart stop dead in its tracks.

"Gilbert has scarlet fever."

———
AN: i always publish these so late at night lol sorry