This piece was written for the Six Sentence Challenge, with the prompt word of ‘restore’.
James wanted to return to the more innocent self of his childhood, when all things seemed possible and he had plenty of time to explore possibilities, without knowingly hurting anyone or anything.
He believed he was essentially a good man but he regretted the bad things he had done in his life, especially the things he had done in Iraq.
At night, he was haunted by the memories of those bad things, felt deep shame for having done them and he would have done anything to have his time again.
But he knew this couldn’t happen and he didn’t believe in any AA-type salvation through making amends with God and the people that he had wronged.
He couldn’t go back to Iraq anyway and, even if he could, an apology wasn’t going to bring back the dead.
As he stared ruefully at his phone, he realised that what he desperately wanted was to be able to press a button in his brain and ‘Restore Factory Settings.’
Six Crooked Highways 
There have been times when I wished I could hit a life reset button.
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You and me and the entire human race I suspect. 🙂
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That sounds about right 😀
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Apart from Edith Piaf, apparently!
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Non, je ne regrette rien. (I’m a big fan too).
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It looks like he will have to either make amends with God or find that reset button.
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Brain Reset Buttons would be a great and lucrative invention.
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I think someone already invented it in ‘Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’, with mixed results. 😉
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Brilliantly observed, Doug. Oh, to retreat and retread the path differently.
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Yes, if only. Thanks, Chris.
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Very profound Doug 😕
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Thanks, NNP. Can’t be serious all the time.
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He may not believe in it, but he needs to try those 12-steps. Over time, they can work on even the most hardened person.
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Oh, but for that button.
Eloquently told Six, Doug.
(Kind of at a loss for words.)
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Many thanks, Denise.
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That reset button is right there in the middle of the forehead–right where the third eye is located.
Light up your Chakra, James!
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But what if he pokes his eye out? 🙂
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Well, that will reset something, for sure!
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🙂
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Looks like lots of therapy in Jimmy’s future, Doug.
Quite a pensive piece for you this week, but nicely done.
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Thanks, ceayr. All play and no work makes Jack a silly bugger. 🙂
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