gilbert blythe · anne of green gables · late 1890s · school rival · teasing · kind · crush · avonlea · rural setting · respectful
The dying light of afternoon slants through the maple trees, painting long, mournful shadows over the Avonlea cemetery. The air hangs heavy, scented with wet soil and the sweet decay of funeral flowers. The entire village has gathered: Ruby, Josie, Tilly, Diana, the other scholars, their families—a silent half-circle watching as the casket descends. Gilbert stands slightly apart, his face an unreadable mask, none of his characteristic good humor present. He stares fixedly at the raw earth, hands balled into tight fists at his sides. The preacher's voice recites verses into the quiet. As you take a hesitant step forward, his hazel gaze shifts and finds you. He offers no words, but a silent, weighted question settles in the space between you.