text: &#x200B; *It’s not fair. I’ve worked harder. The long hours, forgotten dreams, all for naught. It’s not fair. I’ve worked harder...* These words continue to echo in my head as the cool night breeze blows against my cheek. The only sounds swimming through the air are my sandals crunching against the dirt and the faint music in the distance. I keep walking, farther and farther until they’re nothing but whispers in the wind. Sitting down on the grass I continued to sink deeper into thought, the moon my only company. I reminisced the hardships I suffered to please him. Working overtime in the fields until the sun came down, going to sleep sore from shoveling and hauling and digging. Abandoning my dreams of starting my own business so I could help my father’s flourish. Turning a blind eye to the beautiful women that passed me by in town, knowing I could never leave my family to start one of my own. “Son! What are you doing out here in the cold?” A familiar voice calls from a distance. I look up and see the moon-lit shape of my father walking towards me. “You should come back to the celebration, son,” he says, hovering over me, “I’m sure your brother wants to see you.” I scoff in disbelief, “Brother? That boy stopped being my brother the moment he left us and stole your money, or are you so foolishly forgiving as to forget that so soon?” He sighs, “There is no folly in being forgiving, I thought I taught you that.” “That’s beside the point. I just can’t believe you would do this.” “Do what? Forgive?” “Yes! How could you forgive a man who’s wronged you so terribly?” “How could I not?” He smiles gently, “Your brother--“ “Don’t even call him that! He stopped being my brother when he dared to ask for his inheritance, practically wishing you dead! He’s *dead* to me!” Father is stunned silent now, and I know I’ve spoken out of turn, but there was no going back now. “And me?” I scoff, “I’ve worked harder than any of your hired servants. Where’s my thanks, huh? If I had known all I had to do to get a calf was to run away, blow your money on whores and wine and then come back, maybe I would have done it sooner!” Before I know it, I’m on my feet. His head is bowed and I can’t see his face. With a clenched jaw, I turn away, my conscience creeping up on me, the weight of my guilt pressing upon my chest. I look out at the moon-lit fields and can’t help but wonder how many rows of grain were my handiwork. I breathe in the cold provincial air but felt no refreshment. “Hiram, I-I’m sorry,” His voice breaks, I feel his hand on my shoulder, “I know I haven’t been fair to you, that’s clear to me now.” I turn to look at him, looking everywhere but into his eyes. A glistening tear rolls down his weathered cheek, disappearing into his gray beard. His lips are pursed, and I know I have to look him in the eye for them to move again. I meet his eyes, and a light turned on inside them. “Please try to understand, you’ve always stayed by my side.” He said, taking a step forward, “Everything I have is yours, you only had to ask and you could have it.” Pausing, he looks out onto the fields just as I was only moments before. “Yesterday, your brother was good as dead. We mourned him, your mother cried to no end and I had no comfort to offer her.” There was a sudden swell of shouts coming from the party. They must have brought out another calf. The sound doesn’t faze Father. “Now he returns. I got to see him again with my own eyes and hold him in my arms, just as I thought he was gone forever. He was dead, but now he lives. He was lost, but now he’s found!” He took hold of my shoulders, squaring them in his grasp “I understand that you’re hurt, and I’m sorry that you feel mistreated. I rejoice the return of a lost son, but please don’t forget the return of your lost brother.” I searched his eyes for answers, trying to find how a man could be so forgiving. I only found the eyes of a man who didn’t want to lose a son twice. I hung my head. “Father, don’t be sorry. I should be the one apologizing. I’m sorry for being so entitled, I had no right to--“ He cut me off “That’s not the first time I’m hearing this today. I don’t want to hear it again, believe me.” He pulled me into a warm embrace, planting a kiss on my cheek, “Come, son, let’s go home...” As I guessed, a new calf was roasting over the open pit. Servants rushed back and forth between tables, pouring wine and refilling plates of food. Guests danced with gusto, prancing around in pairs, singing off-key from the tops of their lungs. Walking side by side with my father, I was greeted by relatives and acquaintances I didn’t know or care for. My eyes searched for one person only. There he sat, surrounded by more strangers, a full cup of wine in his hand. His eyes were downcast and expressionless, flitting between the floor and the guests. I caught his gaze and his eyes widened ever so slightly before giving me a sheepish smile. I don’t know what came over me but I left my father’s side, pushing past the crowd, running towards my brother. I wrapped my arms around him and he did the same. No words can express the happiness I felt at that moment. My father’s son was dead but now he was alive. My brother was lost, but now he was found. A/N: Only makes sense if you're familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son. Hope you can still appreciate it even if you don't.