Devoted To You || Gilbert Blythe

XLVIII

~𝒜𝒹𝒶~
Moribund. An adjective.
Meaning, in a dying state; near death:
_________________________

It's Easter Sunday. Our grand garden party for Mary unfolds with delightful anticipation. Having been the gracious host of Easter Sunday brunches for us annually, Mary is in for a treat as we've orchestrated this celebration to give back in a special way.

Anne, with her creative touch, just dropped off a hat for Mary adorned with a breathtaking array of wildflowers. The vibrant hues and intricate design are bound to capture Mary's heart.

Outside Mary's door, a trio comprising Gilbert, Sebastian, and myself gathers, each of us holding a piece of the surprise.

"Ready for another Easter surprise?" I hear Sebastian playfully ask, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Sebastian, ever the grinning conspirator, holds out the beautifully crafted hat to Mary.

Her gasp is a testament to the hat's beauty, and she exclaims, "It's stunning!" With Gilbert's assistance, Mary is gently helped into her shoes, confusion evident in her expression. "What's going on here?" she questions, curiosity lighting up her eyes.

Sebastian smirks, adding an air of mystery, "Soon you'll see." She stands up on her own but her body it too frail to walk. Sebastian scoops her up in his arms and we head to the Barry House.

***

Mary gasps loudly as she catches sight of the Barry's backyard. They've made hanging butterflies out of old book pages, there's wildflowers planted all around, and plenty of room for everyone to gather.

"Welcome to your Easter, Mary." Anne smiles as they greet her at the entrance.

"Happy Easter, Mary." They call out. Mary's eyes tear up as she takes it all in. They get her settled into her seat in the middle of the garden. She thanks her laundry sisters and Marilla as they present gifts.

"This is for Delphine." Anne holds out the book of recipes.

Mary gasps, "You're an angel, Anne Shirley Cuthbert." They embrace and she scurries off to put Delly's flower crown on.

I feel a tap on my shoulder, Gilbert silently gives me the Bible with the flower pressings. I nod and gingerly give it to Mary. "Oh, Ada, you didn't have to do this."

"No. I did." I sit beside her and watch as she flips through the pages. I explain to her the meaning behind each note and flower I left in it. Her eyes water and she leans in to hug me, "You will be a part of our lives forever, Mary. You will not be forgotten." I blink and tears stream down my face. I open my eyes and Sebastian mouths a thank you.

"You are my dearest friend, Ada Faye." She cries. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"Thank you for everything." I whisper and she wipes my tears away. "I fear I can never repay you."

She looks up and takes in a deep breath. "Could you sing that song for me? The one you'd sing in church?"

I smile and stand in front of her before softly singing.

"When peace like a river
Attendeth my way."

I look to Anne and Diana and they help me sing.

"When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot
Thou hast taught me to know."

Mary shakes her head and sighs as she takes in the scene. Everyone gathers around her and joins in.

"It is well
It is well with my soul."
It is well with my soul
With my soul
It is well it is well
With my soul"

"I don't know how to thank you all." Mary tries to fight back tears as she speaks. "I'll just read my favorite prayer, if that's alright." Gilbert hands her the Bible. "Lord... make me an instrument of your peace." Her voice quivers as she reads, "Where there is hatred...let me sow love."

Marilla helps her read. "Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith."

We all join in now and help read the prayer aloud. I lean over and try to read off Gilbert's extra book, he pulls me down to sit on his knee. He sits the book in my lap and we read together. "Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O divine master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console. To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."

I watch as a tear rolls off my nose and onto the page. Gilbert takes his thumb and brushes over it. I look to him and give him a knowing look.

***

As the sun dips below the horizon, casting a palette of warm hues across the sky, Gilbert and I decide it's time for one more surprise. It's something Sebastian had expressed a longing for—to share the simple joy of flying a kite with Mary and Delphine.

Gilbert, ever resourceful, retrieves a vibrant kite from the carriage. "How about we give this a try?" he suggests, holding the kite with a hopeful smile.

Mary's eyes light up with a mixture of surprise and delight. "A kite, Gilbert?"

"Absolutely," he assures her.

With a collective agreement, we venture to an open field adjoining the garden. The soft rustling of grass accompanies our steps, and the anticipation builds as Gilbert prepares the kite for flight.

Sebastian wears a hopeful expression as he carries Mary out to the field. "You guys really thought of everything, didn't you?"

"We know how bad you have wanted to do this." I say, my eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.

Gilbert runs around trying to catch a breeze before running back towards us. He hands the kite's string to Mary. "You're the captain, Mary. Take the lead."

Mary hesitates for a moment, her hands tracing the string. The breeze picks up more, carrying with it a sense of both fragility and resilience. With a deep breath, Mary takes her place, surrounded by friends who stand ready to share in this poignant moment.

"Let it soar, Mary!" Anne encourages, her voice carrying the spirit of encouragement.

Mary releases the kite, and for a heartbeat, time seems to stand still. The kite catches the wind, ascending gracefully into the darkening sky. Delphine, giggling in my arms, watches the spectacle with innocent joy.

Sebastian, standing beside Mary, smiles through the bittersweetness. "Thank you, all of you."

As Mary holds the string, feeling the tug of the soaring kite, there's a collective acknowledgment that, in this shared experience, we have woven a new tapestry of memories—one that transcends the heaviness of the moment and lifts their spirits, if only for a while. The kite dances in the twilight, a symbol of hope, love, and the enduring beauty found in the midst of life's challenges.

This is the saddest episode I stg😭😭- Ren