in the name of love ⌲ gilbert blythe

03 | Sorrow for the Brave

I let out a small sigh of relief as Mr. Phillips addressed that class was dismissed. Keep in mind that that was a small sigh. I still had to go home and face the challenges mother threw at me.

But at the moment, I wanted nothing more than to escape the stares coming from Gilbert Blythe.

As I gathered my things, my eyes seemed to find themselves peeking over at the boy who must've noticed right away, because he winked over at me almost immediately. I rolled my eyes as he did so before walking over to the exit. I knew the boy was behind me, but I couldn't have cared less.

"Amelia!" I close my eyes and let out a quiet sigh before turning around to see Diana and Anne. Of course I only sighed when I had to turn around and not only see them, but the annoying boy as well. He smiled over at me and I turned back around in return as my two new friends walked up to my sides. "So, how was your first day?"

I shrugged as the three of us walked out of the schoolhouse. "It wasn't like Talmage," was all I replied with. The truth is, I missed Talmage so dearly. I would've done anything to go back.

"It must be hard having to move away from somewhere you love," Anne says. "I feel much sorrow for you Amelia. You are so brave."

I give her a weak smile. "It's alright. And thank you."

"And who knows? Maybe you'll grow to love Avonlea," Diana giggles. I shrugged my shoulders sluggishly as we walked in the woods, which I guessed led to both of their houses as well. I couldn't help but turn my head to see if Gilbert Blythe was there, but he was stopped at the entrance with his friends behind us. Yet, he was still staring at me as his friends did the same. I scoffed and turned my head. Anne and Diana must've noticed due to their facial expressions.

"Is Gilbert bothering you?" Diana inquires. I shrugged once again.

"He stared at me all day, and not only that but he keeps winking," I reply. "I find it quite awkward for someone to stare at me for so long."

Diana giggles as Anne stays silent. "I sure wished Gilbert would wink at me. You must be the lucky girl Amelia," she says. I tilt my head slightly to the right.

"What do you mean?" I queried her.

"Almost every girl swoons over Gilbert Blythe," she says before looking over at Anne. "Well, every girl except Prissy Andrews."

The two of them giggled as we walked while I found myself dumbfounded. I decided not to question it, but the sentence still bothered me.

"Well, maybe he should learn that staring is quite rude," I say. "I'm sure he's such a gentleman though. Really."

"Well, that's what most people think of me."

The three of us turn around to see the dark headed boy standing there along with his friends.

"Oh really?" I queried. He nodded his head, his lips tugged upwards in a smile.

"I didn't know admiring a girl's natural beauty was rude," he says. "Sorry, you will probably have to teach me some manners."

I rolled my eyes at his comment. "I thought you were taught manners when you were born." His friends began to laugh as Diana tugged on the sleeve of my dress.

"Amelia, lets go," she murmurs. Before I could turn around, Gilbert takes steps closer to me before holding his hand out.

"Gilbert Blythe," he introduces himself as I softly shake his hand.

"Amelia Fulton." A small smirk appeared on his lips when I let go of his hand and I scoffed.

"Lets go," I say as I turn to Anne and Diana. They both nod and follow me as I walk away. We only took a few steps away from the boys when I took out my father's pocket watch which I always kept in a small pocket on my dress and noticed what time it was. My eyes widened was I saw this and I stopped dead in my tracks. I knew Gilbert and his friends were watching, but I couldn't have cared less. "Oh no."

"Amelia?" Anne asks. "Are you alright?"

I quickly slip the pocket watch back into my pocket and begin to sprint towards the direction of my house.

"I'm late!" I shouted loud enough for them all to head as I made my way through the woods, avoiding branches of trees.

It took at least five more minutes to get back to my house, where I saw my furious mother on the porch.

"Sorry mother, I had to stay and–" I flinched as she harshly grabbed my upper arm as I tried to speed walk into the house. She forced me to look into her eyes and once she opened her mouth, the smell of alcohol came pouring out.

She's been drinking again.

"You're late," she speaks through gritted teeth. I nod my head as I gulp down the lump in my throat. I winced when I looked down in her free hand to see she was gripping onto a belt.

"I know mother but I–"

"You know what happens when you're late."

I wanted to cry. I hated my mother. I hated her with my whole life.

I didn't answer which caused her to roll her eyes. She let go of my arm and smacked me across the face with her belt, causing me to let out a whimper of pain as I brought one hand to my face. I knew it was going to bruise.

"Get down," she demands. Hot tears began pouring out of my eyes as she said those words.

"No mama! Please don't–"

"I said get down!"

I hesitated for a split second before I bent over. A million tears escaped my eyes as I prepped myself for the real pain to come. And the real pain wasn't the belt contacting with my body. The real pain was knowing that it was my mother doing this, one of my own bloodline. She hated me, and felt no sympathy whatsoever for what she had been putting me through.

Only then did the physical pain begin.

⋘ ⋙

The next day at school was even harder than the first. The first thing everybody noticed was the new bruise forming on my face from my mother. When they asked me what happened, I didn't answer.

The worst reaction was Gilbert Blythe's.

"Woah, what happened to your face?" He inquired. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. It seemed to be the only thing I could do around this boy.

"I hurt it."

"Well obviously. That's a pretty good bruise," he says. I shook my head before walking into the schoolhouse and sitting down in my seat next to Ruby Gillis, who noticed it next.

"Oh my, Amelia what happened?"

"I hurt it."

—