Chapter Text
One of Anne’s first memories since being adopted by the Cuthberts, was standing at the front door holding Marilla’s hand while she talked to a tall man with dark hair and a kind smile. She remembers a small boy clutching at the man’s leg, with the same dark, curly hair. He was hiding half behind the leg, nervously glancing at Anne before looking up at his father.
“This is Anne.” Anne remembered Marilla looking down at her proudly.
“And this is my son, Gilbert.”
That was the moment that Gilbert Blythe entered into Anne’s life, and rooted himself there. They were 6 years old.
Parents seem to think that just because they are the same age, kids are bound to get along. And they did, for some time at least. Gilbert warmed to Anne quickly, and they were inseparable for years. Being next door neighbours gave them the advantage other best friends didn’t have, for Gilbert would just climb over the fence separating their gardens, and climb up into the tree house Matthew had built for Anne. They’d spend hours reading comic books, playing pirates, or heroes. Sometimes they’d have sleepovers in a tent in the Blythe’s basement with Anne telling dramatic stories, laughing until their cheeks ached and eatings sweets until they were sick. Gilbert would ride his bike to school, with Anne standing on the back, head held high as the wind raced through her hair. Whenever they argued, they always found a way to make things right, like the time Gilbert pulled one of Anne’s braids and called her “carrots”. She’d hit him over the head with a book, and neither would speak to each other for a week. But then one day an apple from the Blythe’s backyard appeared in Anne’s treehouse, and a jam tart wrapped in a cloth tied with ribbon appeared on Gilbert’s doorstep. All was forgiven.
Things were easier back when they were younger. But tragedy struck their final year of middle school. Gilbert’s father had been ill for quite some time, and slowly Anne could see it starting to take a toll on her friendship with Gilbert. He didn’t want to hang out anymore. His mother died when he was born, and when his father finally died, Gilbert was left an orphan.
Anne tried to be there for him, but slowly they grew apart, and by high school it was as if they were strangers. They still lived next door to each other, a family friend moved in to help Gilbert, and Marilla had done all she could. Anne still saw him through her window, but they never smiled, they acted like the past 7 years had never happened.