“Well, that was just beautiful.” Grannie Ally said, a tear in her eye, as we walked back through the church doors into the sunlight. “I know,” mum replied, “It was fascinating to learn about that part of his life that we weren’t a part of.”

“Well done, Isabel darling.” Betty piped up. Belinda smiled again, she was too emotional to speak but the feeling in her eyes said all that was needed to say. We were now headed to a nice, picturesque spot in the hills to plant a flower bush in his memory. I knew it was going to be very overwhelming for my brother, so I squeezed his hand tight all the way there. Once we arrived, the whole group took a moment to take in the view and the experience before we started. “So,”Grannie Ally began, taking some seeds out of her pocket“I have some Hibiscus flower seeds here, would the children like to plant them?” We all nodded and started quietly working away.

A couple of minutes later, the seeds had been planted and watered. At least one of us would come back each day to water and look after it more for the rest of the holiday. After we left, a greek lady on the island had promised to look after it as it was very near her house. We stood up to look at our handiwork. It was nice to know that a little bit of him would be left to grow and flower here, where he died. I wasn’t sure if we would ever come back here again, after what had happened, but if we didn’t, we could always remember this. No one really felt like going back to the large, lonely house just yet, so we all went off in small groups for a short walk around the area. I went with my mum, Lori, Niall and Ellie. My dad was with Grannie Ally and Betty and Belinda, Conrad and Farran went off together. Then finally Renuka and Luke behind them. On the walk, we talked about Grandad and all the great times we had had with him, before it got just a bit too overwhelming and, in the end, we just walked in peaceful silence. And before we knew it, we were back home. It was a couple of hours before dinner so Ellie and I went up to our room for a bit.

“You okay?” she asked as we sat down on one of the beds. I looked up at her, about to reply before my words caught in my throat and tears began to gather in my eyes. I tried to repress it but it was useless. Ellie leant over and held me in a gentle hug and I burrowed my head in her shoulder. She understood what I was going through. And I knew she missed him just as much as I did. He had been like a grandad to her. She didn't know her mum’s parents and her other grandad had died when her dad was just a baby, while he was serving in the RAF, like my grandad had been all those years ago. I knew the answer to her question. I wasn’t okay. And I didn’t think I could be. Not for a while.