Snow’s Point of View

The second we pulled into the driveway, I didn’t even wait for the car to fully stop.

I grabbed my bag, pushed open the door, and practically sprinted into the house.

I could feel everyone’s eyes on me as I passed through the living room.

“Snow!” Deon’s voice called after me, footsteps following closely behind.

Did I look upset? I wasn’t upset… not really.

Okay, maybe a little.

But I didn’t stop.

I made a beeline for Dad’s office.

Without thinking, I pushed open the heavy wooden door.

Dad was seated at his large desk, scribbling something on a piece of paper.

The room smelled faintly of leather and cologne, and the soft hum of the clock ticking filled the space.

His pen paused mid-sentence, and he looked up at me with a slightly raised brow.

“Can we have a family outing?” I blurted, my voice softer than I intended.

Dad leaned back in his chair, studying me for a moment.

“A family outing?” he repeated slowly, as if he was making sure he heard me right.

I nodded quickly, fiddling with the sleeve of my sweater.

“Yeah. I just…” I took a breath, feeling the weight of my own emotions pressing against my chest. “I feel like I’m not close to you guys. I don’t know, Dad, it feels weird. I don’t like this feeling.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized how vulnerable I sounded.

Maybe my period is coming soon, I thought bitterly.

I turned my head to the door, sensing movement behind me.

All four of my brothers were standing there.

Zino, Dimitrios, Karsten, and Deon—all leaning on the doorframe, arms crossed, watching me with these soft, proud smiles on their faces.

The sight made me groan.

“Ew! You guys look like proud fathers or something!” I blurted, wrinkling my nose.

They burst into laughter, even Dad chuckled under his breath.

Deon nudged Dimitrios. “She’s got jokes.”

Dad shook his head, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Alright,” he said, placing his pen down. “You guys get ready. It’s time to show Snow a place her mom loved.”

The room went quiet for a second.

I blinked, caught off guard.

“Really? We’re going there?” Zino asked, his voice lighting up with excitement.

Dad nodded once, slow and deliberate.

Dimitrios pushed off the doorframe and crossed the room to me.

Before I could react, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a rare, warm hug.

“You good, sis?” he asked quietly, his hand rubbing my back.

I nodded against his chest, my eyes stinging for a reason I didn’t understand.

“I’m good,” I whispered, hugging him back tightly.

Zino was the next to ruffle my hair, grinning. “Guess you’re stuck with us now.”

Karsten just smiled and patted my shoulder. “You’ll love it. Mom adored this place.”

A soft warmth spread in my chest.

For the first time in a while, I didn’t feel like an outsider in my own family.

The house buzzed with quiet energy as we all got ready.

Dad was more relaxed than usual, casually dressed in dark jeans and a button-up shirt.

My brothers were laughing and teasing each other as they prepared.

Even I felt a little lighter.

“Where exactly are we going?” I asked while slipping on my shoes.

Dad looked up from where he was fixing his watch.

“It’s a quiet place your mother loved. A cabin near the lake,” he explained.

“A cabin?” I blinked.

Dimitrios smirked. “Yeah. She used to take us there when we were kids. We haven’t been back in a long time.”

Deon leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “You’re lucky, Snow. Dad never let us go there without Mom.”

The air shifted slightly, but not in a bad way.

There was something special about this place, and it made me even more curious.

Karsten slung his arm around my shoulders. “Don’t worry. We’ll make it fun.”

I smiled. “I’m holding you to that.”

The sun had already started to set as we drove out of the city, leaving behind the towering buildings and streetlights.

The further we went, the quieter it became.

The road stretched endlessly, flanked by tall trees that swayed gently in the evening breeze.

Music played softly in the background, one of Zino’s playlists.

It wasn’t awkward, but it wasn’t loud either. It felt… peaceful.

I leaned my head against the window, watching as the sky shifted from pale blue to shades of purple and pink.

“I can see why Mom liked this drive,” I murmured, mostly to myself.

Dimitrios, who was driving, smiled faintly.

“She loved sunsets,” he said quietly.

For a moment, I imagined her in this car, laughing and teasing my brothers, the wind blowing through her hair.

It made my chest tighten, but in a way that wasn’t painful.

At the Cabin.

The cabin was tucked away near a secluded lake, surrounded by tall pines and soft mossy ground.

It wasn’t overly fancy, but it had this warm, welcoming feel to it.

The wooden deck faced the water, and a soft breeze carried the scent of pine and earth.

“This place is beautiful,” I breathed, stepping out of the car.

Karsten smiled. “Mom thought so too.”

Dad unlocked the door, and we all stepped inside.

It was cozy, with soft blankets folded on the couches and old family photos lining the walls.

There was even a dusty bookshelf filled with books that looked untouched.

“This was Mom’s favorite spot,” Dimitrios said, pointing to a rocking chair by the window.

I walked over and gently ran my fingers along the armrest.

“She used to sit there for hours, just staring at the lake,” Zino added.

I smiled, imagining her there, peaceful and content.

“Come on,” Deon clapped his hands together. “Let’s start a fire outside. We’ll roast marshmallows or something.”

We all headed out to the fire pit.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t thinking about Kingston or Nia or school.

It was just us.

My family.

And for once, that felt like enough.

As the fire crackled and laughter filled the air, I knew I had made the right choice.

This was the family I wanted to hold on to.

And I wasn’t letting it slip away again.

You guys listen to

"Adore my body"- Alicia &Jasmina

It's honestly the best song ever, it gets me in the writing mood.

I never want this to end😭