There could be a prodigal son or daughter who left home due to some issues like family disputes or the pursuit of a career. They are the central characters who are coming home to face their past.
A young person who went away for education could be in the story. They come back with new ideas and values, which might clash with the traditional ways of their hometown. Their journey of trying to integrate the new and the old while coming home can make for an engaging plot.
There could be a solitary protagonist, perhaps someone who has been through a hard day at work or a difficult event. Maybe there's also a mysterious figure lurking in the dark, which adds to the sense of danger.
One possible setting could be a rural area. Maybe it's a small village with narrow lanes and fields around. The darkness would be more intense there, and there could be all sorts of natural elements like howling winds or the sounds of nocturnal animals that add to the atmosphere.
The 'coming home short story' might be about the experience of returning home. It could involve themes like the sense of belonging, changes in the hometown, or reunions with family. For example, the protagonist might have been away for a long time and upon coming home, discovers new things in the familiar place.
The story 'Coming Home in the Dark' is likely to be a rather dark and perhaps disturbing one. It might deal with themes of loneliness, fear, or the unknown. Maybe the act of coming home in the dark symbolizes a journey into the self or a return to a place that holds some sort of hidden or repressed emotions. For example, the character could be facing some internal demons that are only revealed when they are in the vulnerable state of being in the dark on their way home.
In 'Coming Home in the Dark', one possible aspect is the exploration of the unknown. The darkness can symbolize the hidden aspects of life or the self. As the character comes home in the dark, they might be forced to confront things that are usually hidden or ignored. For example, they could encounter a strange person or situation that makes them re - evaluate their life or their relationship with their home.
A plot twist in 'the mom coming home story' could be that when the mom comes home, she discovers that someone has broken into the house. However, instead of stealing things, they left a mysterious note. Or perhaps she comes home thinking it's just an ordinary day, but her family has prepared a huge celebration because she got a promotion at work without her knowing. Also, it could be that she comes home to a new pet that the family has adopted without her prior consent.
There could be a lonely traveler as the main character. Someone who has been away for a long time and is now making the long walk home.
There could be a protagonist who is likely the one trying to fly away home. Maybe it's a young person who has been away from home for a long time and is eager to return.
One possible theme is the sense of belonging. Home is where one feels they belong, and the story might explore how characters find or create that sense of belonging within their home environment.
I'm not sure as I haven't read the specific story, but it could be a single protagonist, perhaps a person who has been out working all day and is now coming home in the dark.