As the plane touched down, Jason felt the world rush up. He knew he wasn't returning to the same place. A scientist might say that the irrepressible march of time against the enigmatic fabric of space assures no place is ever the same. A philosopher might say a place is forever changed once a person has left it.

Jason supposed no person was ever the same after leaving another. He certainly wasn't the same after thinking so hard that night on Stephen's porch about the possibility of life without Beth. Jason had been feeling as good as he'd ever felt, had been enjoying fond memories, had been enjoying a pleasant night while drinking and talking with his brother. It had been a wonderful evening. But then Stephen asked if Beth might be depressed and mentioned ho...

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