THE WHOLE PLACE WAS beautifully wrecked. My fathers fault, of course-magazines on fishing littered the floor, along with crumpled paper and three deflated air mattresses-but that's exactly why it was so beautiful. Brian stumbled in awkwardly behind me as I snapped a few pictures on my phone, and immediately told me to take the dogs outside. I groaned, mumbling about how he's not in charge of me just because he's forty-seven seconds older. I still took the dogs out, though. When I got back, Brian had already used those muscles of his to transport our luggage in-and even our guns.

I clapped sarcastically for him after he asked for a hand, then spent the next about hour cleaning the place and actually putting everything away. By the time we were done and the air mattresses were filled with air, it was too late to go hunting and too early to go to bed - for me at least.

To waste the time, I lay stomach flat on my mattress and checked my phones notifications. Livvy, my younger sister by three years, had texted me a picture she must have taken after I stopped messaging Xavier. It was a selfie of her wearing my favorite dress. I scowled, and responded with a few choice words, then warned her that if she got ANYTHING on it, I'd personally murder her myself. She came back with an emoji with a little guy sticking his tongue out and winking. I wished I could punch it's smug face.
I threw my phone down, and stomped outside. I sat on the stoop through the back door, calling for Tiger-the oldest hound dog we have-to come over to me. I rubbed his head, his excess skin flopping into his face. I made weird baby cooing noises at him, making him thump his tail happily. Although it was dark outside, I felt warm and happy inside. I was back where I belonged. Back where I could face memories and finally conquer them.