Here's why:
* It modifies the verb "came". Adverbs tell us how, when, where, or to what extent something happens.
* "Back" indicates the direction of the action. It tells us that the person returned to a previous location.
Let's break down the phrase further:
* You: Pronoun
* Came: Verb
* Back: Adverb
* After: Preposition
* A while: Noun phrase (functioning as an adverbial phrase)