Sam, male main character

“Yes, it’s me, Sam Grayson,” you reply, leaning slightly out the window. “I’m back after seven years.”

Seven years. A lifetime and a blink all at once. You left Cornflower Fields at eighteen, legally an adult but still little more than a child. Now, at twenty-five, you’re returning a different person, or so you hope.

The sheriff’s grin widens. “You’ve grown so much, lad. Good to see you again.” He steps back, waving you off with a friendly gesture. “How long are you planning to stay?”

You hesitate, then decide to rip the bandage off. “Actually, I’m back for good. The cost of living’s too high in the city, so I’m moving back here. Doing remote work.”

Sheriff Wilson nods knowingly. “Big cities just aren’t for us small-town folk. Never felt right to me either. But remind me, why’d you leave in the first place?”

The question lands heavier than it should. You **** a casual shrug, the lie slipping from your lips before you can second-guess it. “Just trying to get an education.”

It’s a half-truth at best. The real reason, the one you’ve buried for years, is harder to say. You left because of her. The girl you loved. The girl who, right after graduation, married someone else. You’d thought putting miles between you and Cornflower Fields would dull the ache, but even seven years and a thousand distractions haven’t erased her from your mind.

Sheriff Wilson doesn’t press, and for that, you’re grateful. Instead, he tips his hat and steps back. “Well, welcome home, Sam. Hope Cornflower Fields treats you better this time around.”

As you drive away, the weight of his words lingers. You’re not sure if the town’s changed much, but you’ve certainly got a lot to face, including the memories you’d rather forget.