The elder son stood beside his father, the patriarch, as his younger brother, the prodigal son, spoke with urgency. "Give me my share of the estate," he demanded. The patriarch looked at his son with a heavy heart, yet nodded in silent agreement. The elder son watched, bewildered by his brother's eagerness to leave the life they had built together.

The elder son stood at the edge of their land, watching his brother walk away. The prodigal son moved with determination, not once looking back. The elder son[/@ch_1_d]"What could be out there that's better than here?"[/@ch_1_d] he wondered aloud, feeling a part of himself leave with [@ch_3]his brother.

The elder son toiled alongside his father, each day a repetition of the last. Yet, his mind often drifted to his brother. "Is he safe? Does he ever think of us?" he asked himself, the questions lingering like echoes in the vast silence of their home.

The elder son noticed a figure approaching from the distance, weary and worn. The patriarch rushed forward, arms open wide, tears streaming down his face. "My son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found," he cried, embracing the prodigal son with unreserved joy. The elder son stood back, conflicted by the scene before him.

The elder son approached his father, anger simmering beneath the surface. "Why didn’t you ever throw me a party?" he asked, his voice tight with frustration. The patriarch, ever gentle, replied, "Your brother was lost and is found. You have always been with me, and everything I have is yours."

The elder son pondered his father's words, realizing the depth of his father's love. It wasn't about what was earned but what was freely given. "Love is not a reward," he murmured to himself, understanding at last that his brother's return was a testament to forgiveness and redemption. As the prodigal son mingled with guests, the elder son felt the warmth of grace envelop his heart, knowing that love was boundless and unconditional.