Broke and broken, he returned. His father’s lavish reception did nothing to shake the demons chasing him.

The grace shamed him, the flattery embarrassed him, and the wine reminded him.

Let’s go back, they whispered.

That night, he left.

His brother scoffed, his suspicions confirmed.

His father is still waiting.

Jason Hart manages a Christian bookstore in South Carolina. He enjoys writing short stories in his spare time. You can read his other stories at jasonlhart.blogspot.com.