Emberflame Ridge Hollow's Lantern

“I’m itchy all over,” he mutters, teeth grinding at another patch of flaking skin. He looks down at his legs, dark in the fading light, and imagines his skin crawling with bugs underneath.

He sighs and drops his head into the crackling of late summer leaves. The pastor’s words are a temporary distraction.

“John… do you think mom actually wants to see me?” From the ground he gives the man a frail look . “It’s been… so long. Dinah says she’s got a new family now and-

“You should have seen her face that day, John. She was so mad at Dad. Maybe she just wants to forget about everything.”

About me.