Not even the impressive sunrise nor the chattering birds could bring any cheer to the two people standing in silence by the pond.
Jo could sense Laurie's pain, and it hurt her to know that she could offer him no comfort.
Finally Laurie spoke up. "Is it because of that old man in New York?"
While Jo had been away, she had sent letters to family and friends in which she wrote enthusiastically about episodes with the Professor.
"Laurie, you're like a brother to me. You're my best friend.
Can't you understand that?" Jo tried to explain, carefully avoiding the issue of the Professor because she was not certain herself what her feelings were.
"This is unfair, Jo!" Laurie suddenly shouted.
"I can't understand it at all! I won't!"
With that, Laurie stomped off, leaving Jo standing alone watching him disappear into the woods.
Jo remained like that for a while, trying to digest everything that had just happened and what the consequences would be.
When she got home, Mother and Father had just left to do some errands in town so Beth was alone.
Although her younger sister was now nineteen years old, Jo still regarded her as a delicate child.
The last thing Jo wanted was for Beth to know what had happened between her and Laurie that morning.
So, she suggested with forced cheerfulness, "Beth, shall we visit Meg and see how the baby is doing?"
With arms linked, the sisters set out to visit Meg, who was overjoyed when she saw them walking down the path to her house.
"Jo! I'm so happy to see you!" she cried.
Right away, Jo noticed the size of Meg's stomach.
Resting a hand over it, she spoke to the baby, "How is my little niece or nephew doing in there?
Is Mommy feeding you lots of yummy things?"
"Oh, Jo," giggled Meg, giving her sister a hug. "It's so good to see you."
For the rest of the morning, the three sisters chatted, laughed, suggested possible names for the baby,
planned its future, and finally discussed who would be next to have a child.
"Well, it won't be me," declared Jo. "Maybe Beth or Amy."
Beth smiled sadly, then said softly, "Maybe Amy."
On their way to Meg's house, it was clear that Beth was moving much more slowly than usual, as if each step she took was painful.
Jo had mistakenly thought Beth's sadness was due to her lovesick feelings for Laurie, but after seeing the physical change in Beth,
Jo realized that it was something more.
On their way home from Meg's, Jo gently brought up the subject.
"Beth?" she began. "Is there something wrong? If there is, you must tell me."
Beth took Jo's hand and squeezed it with the little strength she had. "Yes, Jo, there is something wrong."
While Beth was thinking of how to tell Jo her secret,
Laurie was pouring out his soul to his grandfather, who patiently listened to the heartbreaking story.
"I'm sorry Jo does not return your affections," Mr. Laurence said after Laurie fell into silence.
Even Mr. Laurence was devastated at Jo's rejection of his grandson, because all these years he had secretly hoped the two would marry.
"But you must respect her decision, dear boy," he continued.
"I can't, Grandfather. I can't imagine my life without her," Laurie said in a distressed voice.
Mr. Laurence thought for a moment then suggested, "Perhaps, it would be best for everyone if you left for a while, took a trip somewhere.
You can have time to deal with your emotions, and so can Jo."
Laurie didn't want to leave but after much persuasion, he reluctantly agreed that some time away would do him good.
On the street below, Beth, having thought of different ways to explain herself,
finally decided that the straightforward approach would be the best. "Jo, I'm dying."
Stunned, Jo stopped in her tracks, her body stiffening and her head throbbing painfully.
"What? How do you know, Beth?" she managed to ask.
"I've known for some time, Jo," Beth said calmly. "And I've come to accept it."
Shaking her head wildly, Jo cried, "No, Beth, you must be mistaken.
You can't die! Has Dr. Bangs diagnosed you?"
Suddenly becoming the older sister, Beth shook Jo's shoulder gently and said in a clear strong voice,
"Dr. Bangs already knows, and there's nothing that can be done.
We must all face reality, and you must get on with your lives."
"I can't lose you, Beth. Please don't say that," Jo wept openly, not caring if people stared at her or not.
Beth took Jo's hand and began walking again as she comforted her sister.
"I'm not afraid, Jo. In a way, I'm glad because I won't have to suffer anymore.
It's been so painful, Jo, and I don't want to hurt any longer."
Jo could not speak, because she was weeping so hard that she started to hiccup.
"Let's go home, Jo," Beth said gently, leading her devastated sister back down the familiar road.
That night, Jo sat upstairs in her sanctuary looking out into the dark, seeing clear images of their childhood reflected in the moonlight.
So many happy memories filled her mind as she laughed, then cried, remembering precious moments from long ago.
Mother found Jo sitting there like that the next morning.
"Jo? May I come in?" Mother called softly from the door.
Jo turned to her and stretched out her arms, desperately needing to feel the warmth of Mother's love.
"Beth told you," Mother said simply as she tightly embraced her inconsolable daughter.
"Why Beth? She's done nothing bad in her life. Why not me?" Jo asked.
"I know it's hard to accept, Jo, but we must try to make Beth as happy and comfortable as we can before—" her mother choked,
"before she goes. For her sake, we must be strong."
"I'll try," sniffed Jo. "But I'll never understand why this is happening."
"Now wipe your tears, my darling. Laurie is downstairs and he says it's urgent that he see you," Mother said, using her apron to dry Jo's eyes.
Laurie was the last person Jo wanted to talk to at that moment, but she felt she had to see him since she had broken his heart only the day before.
When she got downstairs, Laurie didn't turn around to greet her as usual.
Dressed in his overcoat and gloves, he spoke up when he sensed Jo's presence behind him. "I've come to say good-bye, Jo."
"Where are you going?" she asked carefully.
Perhaps it was something in her voice that made Laurie turn around and face her.
"My God, Jo, are you all right?" he cried when he saw the state she was in.
"I'm fine, Laurie," she lied.
"I'm going to Europe for a while," he said.
Nodding, Jo said, "Say hello to Amy if you see her."
"I doubt it, but if I do, I will," Laurie said, moving toward her to hug her.
Then changing his mind, he stormed out the door.