how much do you carry with you?

i just finished reading "the kite runner" by Khaled Hosseini. it floored me. it's rare that two dimensional words can generate such gut-wrenching emotions in me that i find myself openly weeping while reading certain passages.

but, perhaps, what drew me in the most was the protagonist's deep-seated guilt. i wonder about people who do wrong as children - or i suppose even as adults - and whether they do carry that shame around with them their whole lives, like a physical scar. i tend to believe that there is in almost every situation a way to absolution, to find peace. but, in fearing to confront the truth, to deal with the pain that we caused, do we burden ourselves for a lifetime instead?

in any case, i recommend the novel. well written and well read.