after you left |ai|

To prevent confusion, here are her siblings and significant others so I don't have to explain it every time:
- Chris (31yr old), wife: Jasmine, kids: Tyler and Ally
- Ben (28yr old), fiancée: Elodie
- Alec (26yr old), girlfriend: Courtney
- Amber (22yr old)

—

After discussing it for an hour during breakfast, we all put our bags back in the cars and somehow got everything in three cars. I was sitting on the backseat next to Ally and Tyler with a smile on my face while I listened to Chris and Jasmine talk. They allowed me to play my playlist of classical music because atleast I had something to do this way.

The last time we had went on a family trip was two weeks before Thomas walked out on me. He did come along on the trip but we argued most of the weekend. But even if that was the last time, it didn't feel wrong today. It felt good to be out with them again.

It took us two hours to get to our usual camping spot next to a lake and everyone seemed happy to get out of the cars. It wasn't a very well known place but we came here so often with the family. Tyler and Ally always love coming here too even if they're the only kids.

I quickly started helping with getting everything out of the cars and bringing it to our spot. I left the tent building to the men in our family once everything was out.

"Elle, will you go in the lake with us?" Elodie, Ben's girlfriend, asked with a smile while she helped Jasmine with getting the kids ready to go in.

"I would never say no to that!" I replied with a smile. We had already put our bikinis underneath our clothes, knowing we would get in right away. I walked over to the tent I shared with Amber, which did not look like a tent yet, and laid down my shirt and shorts on my bag before going over to the others. They were all already by the side of the lake and Amber was first to go in. This was her favourite place and her happy place. She always said how she would build a house here if she could and honestly I would too.

I picked up Ally when she walked over to me in her swimsuit and she looked so happy. I looked at Elodie and Jasmine who were going in with her brother.

"Swim!" Ally said excited while clapping her hands and I looked at her with a big smile. Every worry faded away so quickly when surrounded by my family.

"It's good to see you happier again." Courtney, Alec's girlfriend, said when she stopped beside me. I turned so I could look at her while Ally waved at her so excited.

"It was a hard week but it's nice to be out here with all of us. I'm glad you could join us too, I know it has been busy at your office."

"Oh I'll take a weekend off anytime to come here and be with you guys. There's not much that I love more than spending time with this family." She said with a happy smile before looking back at my brothers who were trying to set up all the tents while drinking beers.

This is my happy place without a doubt.

—

The kids were already sleeping in a tent while we all sat around the fireplace, bringing up rediculous stories about our childhood while laughing and drinking beers. I never got drunk when I was here, too scared I might not remember the full evening properly.

But while I was so happy to be here and really hoped I could get him out of my mind for a little, all memories we had together came back rapidly. I remembered the first time we came out here together, with my parents and siblings and Chris' girlfriend. I remember how we were so attached to each other all weekend, we kissed and made out and you told me you loved me for the first time at the rocks by the lake. You surprised me with that but I still said it back. I don't know if I already meant it that day, I don't know if what I felt was already love. But I know you made me happy, you made me laugh and smile all the time.