The air was crisp and smelled of the sea.

We drove back to our quiet coastal town.

I parked the car and we walked down to the beach.

The tide was low, leaving the dark wet sand glistening under the sun.

I let Harrison run ahead of me, his little boots leaving small prints in the sand.

He stopped to inspect a seashell, his face serious with concentration.

I looked out at the ocean, the blue water stretching to the horizon.

The waves came in gently, one after the other, washing away the footprints behind us.

The air was cool on my face.

There were no more lies.

There was no more looking over my shoulder.

There was only this quiet coast, my son, and the clean slate of tomorrow.