[PLAY THE SONG]

It truly feels like the end of something.

Closure. It's the word that's been echoing in the hazel-eyed boy's head all week. Packing all his stuff again, just like he did a year ago.

It's going to be a long flight. The plane hasn't even taken off yet and his father is already asleep, resting his head against the window.

He has a familiar book on his lap. The edition is old, the pages have turned a yellowish color — but nothing could be as precious to him as this book right now.

The empty seat to Gilbert's left is suddenly taken by an old woman. She must be around eighty. The boy, being the gentleman he is, doesn't hesitate to help her with her luggage.

"What a charming young man you are!"

Gilbert nods politely as he sits back down. The woman smiles warmly to him.

"I'm sure your girlfriend is a very lucky girl" she says, clasping her hands together as she observes the boy with the grey eyes under her glasses.

"Oh" he mumbles. "I don't have a girlfriend"

He pauses for a second, noticing that the woman's look has turned tenderer, as if she knew.

Am I that obvious?

"But... there's this girl back home. Anne. She's a redhead, fiery temper, incredibly smart, believe me" he chuckles. "One time I called her out for talking to herself — that was when I met her"

His mind takes him for a trip down memory lane, remembering with perfect ease the first time he saw her.

"Hey, I didn't quite catch your name"

"I didn't throw it!"

He lets out another chuckle as he remembers that was the only time she'd ever tried to do some exercise in her whole life.

"Sounds like a very special young lady"

"Yeah, I love her" he sighs. "But timing didn't work out"

"Oh, I bet she's one of those people who appear only once in your life, isn't she?"

"Clearly"

"They do same that when you find the right person in the wrong time, life will eventually put the two of you together again"

The boy remembers Ruby's similar words at prom. Maybe it could be true. Maybe, in another time, when life is not as hectic and as complicated as it is now...

maybe we could be together,

maybe some day our 'almost' will stop haunting me.

For now, Gilbert Blythe can just dream of seeing her again. As he closes his eyes, he imagines a blurry green light in the distance

as he remembers the last time he saw her.

It was just two days ago — yet it feels like it's been months. They'd already said their goodbyes on a farewell party hosted at the Blythes's. But then, that evening, she knocked at his door.

He remembered the outfit, oh, yes. She was wearing a short, white strapless summer dress that allowed him to see almost every single freckle on her body.

"Gilbert, hey"

"Shirley" he said, out of breath as he checked the sight in front of him, up and down.

"I know you're busy with all the move out but-"

"I always have time for you" he said, leaning against the door frame. "Wanna come in?"

"No, um-" she mumbled under her breath. "I just wanted to give you something"

"Me?"

"Remember when you gave me that mixtape as a graduation gift?"

She locked eyes with him. Truth is, she had not even listened to the mixtape at all. She didn't find the guts in her to do so — but she appreciated the gift still.

"Yeah, sure"

"Well, this is yours"

She handed him in a tiny rectangular package. Hazel eyes filled with curiosity, he tore the wrapping paper.

It was book.

It was The Great Gatsby, a first edition.

"But Shirley-" he said, looking up to meet her eyes again. "This is your first edition"

"Open it, asshole"

Property of Anne Shirley-Cuthbert and Gilbert Blythe.

So that you don't forget about me when you're busy making other great friends.

"I don't know what to say" he murmured, caressing the words marked with ink with his fingers.

"You could just say 'thank you', right?"

"Right" he chuckled. "Thank you, Shirley. It means a lot to me"

They looked at each other for a while, waiting for something else that didn't come.

"So this truly is the last time we are going to see each other in a long time" she sighed.

"Yeah"

"You know I'm going to miss you a lot, right?" she said, biting her bottom lip.

She's nervous, he thought.

"You know I'm going to miss you more, right?"

She laughed, punching his chest lightly. Her hand, no longer clenched into a fist, remained placed over his chest.

"It's okay — true friends are always together in spirits"

"I'm still amazed at your way with words, Shirley"

Anne blushed as she tapped her fingers against the fabric of his t-shirt.

"Promise that you'll call, okay?"

"I will" he whispered, staring at her blue eyes under his eyelashes.

"And text me as soon as you land" she whispered back, not looking at him. Her eyes were fixed on her own hand playing with the fabric of his t-shirt.

"Noted"

She looked up, locking their eyes together for the last time.

"Goodbye, Gilbert"

"Goodbye, Shirley"

Anne, however, doesn't move. She stays there, in front of him, for a couple of seconds.

Tell her you love her before she turns around.

Tell her before she turns around.

Tell her.

"Shirley?" Gilbert whispered.

"Yes?"

A beat.

"Take care of yourself, okay?"

"You too"

The girl turned around to leave. She doesn't lean in for a last hug and he's sort of thankful for that.

Who knows. I'll be easier that way.

Gilbert let her go, keeping his feelings to himself as he watched her leave. He waited until her car left his driveway, waving her a last goodbye.

He could've sworn he say her wipe a tear away from the driver's seat.

Maybe we just found each other in the wrong time, he thought as he watched her car disappear in the dark road.

Maybe time will pull us back together again.

___

"I still can't believe Gil's gone" Ruby says, stretching her arms.

Tonight it's just Ruby, Diana and Anne. The later's best friends lie on the grass of the Gillis's backyard, enjoying one of their first summer nights.

Anne herself is standing up, leaning her body against the garden fence. She's looking out to the woods that surround Ruby's neighborhood.

There's a green light across the trees that catches her eye.

"I can't believe he's gone either" Anne whispered under the clear, dark night sky.

"Well" Diana stands up, wiping the grass from her shorts. "I'll head home. Will you come tomorrow to help me with the move out?"

"Sure" her friend day in unison.

After saying their goodbyes, Anne drives back home with no music playing. Once she gets to her room, she lies in bed, exhausted — both physically and emotionally.

Charlie comes back home tomorrow, she thinks.

When she lies on her side, she spots her Walkman on her night table. A mixtape on top of it.

Maybe it's time to finally give this a listen.

Sitting cross legged, she grabs her Walkman, puts the mixtape on, headphones on her ears,

and hits play.

___