The House of Ash and Guilt
"Eli... my poor son, Eli... I've failed you... I was blind...
"I was wrong... let me pay with my life... please come back to me, son..."
He sobbed until he couldn't breathe, collapsing to the floor like a fish gasping on dry land, convulsing as if he'd vomit up his very soul.
I floated above him, watching his belated remorse. I felt nothing—not even satisfaction.
'Father, your tears and confessions mean less to me now than the mud on that mass grave.'
Matthew looked at the broken man on the floor, muttered something about bad luck, turned on his heel, and walked out. He never came back.