Did you open the story in a new tab? (If not, try doing that, then you can just close out the tab to go back to the list.) If so, just close out the tab.
At the bottom of my screen, next to the word, start. It shows FreeRepublic. When I go to a story to read, it splits off into the title of the story. Before, when I finished reading a story, I could use the left arrow and go back to where I was before reading the story. Now, the left arrow won't let me go back. Is that any clearer...or could I be more comfusing than I already am?