“You can’t keep blaming the world for our problems, Eli!”
“We’re all sinners in the eyes of the Lord; all we can do is forgive, and likewise ask for forgiveness.”

Levi gently, yet sternly gazes upon his older sibling. His eyes, although never clouded by anger, were burning with passion.

“S’ppose, so.”
“-but tell me this: why does the chemist scoff at the poet, when he needs his words to live?”
“why does the poet laugh at the chemist, when he needs his knowledge to live?”
“why does the politician beat his country’s people, and why do a country’s people kill the politician, when killing is why he is to die?”
“why does the moderate inherit the hypocrisy of both sides, and the extremist none of the good of his?”
“We deserve to burn in hell, Levi! We are hypocrites of the lowest order!”

Eli, at this point, could not hold back his disdain. He shouts as he utters his godless worldview to his pious sibling. It seemed as though that brief moment of silence had been a deadening eternity.

“-But that’s why we have to forgive.”

Levi starts to reply.

“All we can do is forgive, and forgive, and forgive, till we are all forgiven of our sins.”
“We are hypocrites, and that’s not good; that doesn’t mean we deserve hatred.”
“But in order to be forgiven, we have to try first; we have to try, because no one deserves to burn in hell.”
“-that’s what I believe, Eli.”

“Well shoot, Lev...”

Eli hugs his little brothers, the tender yet firm embrace fading into a kiss on the lips.

“Guess I gotta start lettin’ my bygones be, then.”