A man who yearns, is a man who earns
βEliβ Norton breathed, his voice a fractured thing, caught between a whisper and a sob. βPleaseβ¦β
Eli stood above him, veiled in something more than light, something more than silence. He was radiant, untouchable, a figure carved from the heavens themselves. Behind the shimmering veil, his expression was hidden, yet the stillness of him spoke volumes, a storm held captive in alabaster grace.
βDo you even hear yourself?β Eliβs words fell like cold rain, soft but unyielding. βYou grovel as if the earth could absolve you. As if I could.β
Nortonβs fingers tightened around the fabric, his head bowing low. He was shaking now, his voice raw with a desperation that clawed its way to the surface. βI have nothing else,β he said, barely audible, his words splintering under the weight of them. βNo one else. Only youβ
His hands, trembling with need, rose from the hem of Eliβs robes, finding the edge of Eliβs waist. The touch was light, hesitant at firstβfingers brushing the fabric like the gentlest of caresses. But as if the very act of touching Eli could pull him back from the edge, Nortonβs grip tightened. His hands were desperate now, clutching at the robes like they were the only thing keeping him tethered to a reality that was slipping through his fingers. There was a reverence in the touch, as though the fabric beneath his hands was sacred, a lifeline, a final connection to something worth living for
βYou donβt deserve meβ
Eliβs voice rang out, sharp as a whip, a divine decree that crushed Nortonβs every hope. βNot after what youβve done. Not after who youβve chosen to be.β Nortonβs breath hitched. He could hear the truth in those wordsβknew they were undeniable. But his yearning burned hotter, deeper.
βThen tell me,β he choked, his voice breaking, βtell me what I can do to earn it. What can I do to be worthy of you?β
Eliβs gaze flickered, the light around him quivering like the end of a storm. The very air felt thick, as though time itself was holding its breath. βYou think yearning is enough? You think a man who only wants, who only asks, can be redeemed? You think a prayer of desperate need will fill the void youβve made?β Nortonβs hands clenched tighter around the fabric, his fingers numb with the strain.
βTell me what to do,β he begged. βI will do anything. I will change. For you. Only for you.β His body shook with the effort, his chest heaving as if his very soul was burning inside him.
Eliβs silence seemed to stretch out, a heavy, unspoken verdict. For a fleeting moment, the light around him dimmed, and Norton thought he saw something shiftβsomething faintly human in Eliβs gaze. But it was gone before Norton could reach for it.
βYou must earn your redemption,β Eli said at last, the words more fragile than steel. βIt is not given. It is not a gift that can be handed to you in your grief.β He paused, the weight of his words hanging in the air between them. βYou must give of yourself- Not in prayer, not in beggingβbut in actionβ
Nortonβs heart pounded in his chest, the truth of Eliβs words a hammer to his soul. βHow?β he whispered, feeling the weight of the challenge press down on him. βHow can I earn your forgiveness? Your presence?β
Eliβs gaze held him, distant and knowing. βBy proving your worth, through sacrifice, through change. A man who yearnsβwho truly yearnsβis a man who earns. The road you have walked has been one of destruction, of choice, of selfishness. To earn, you must give more than youβve ever been willing to give before.β
And with that, Eli turned. The light around him unfurled like the petals of a celestial flower, pulling him farther and farther away.
(Idk what else to write, Iβm burned out af. I didnβt even plan on writing this, oh well anyways hope you like it lolβ)
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