Two young men lived in a cave. One morning, they went out to hunt. After much effort they returned to the cave with two rabbits.

The first man looked upon the rabbits and thanked the gods for the bounty. The second man looked upon the same rabbits and lamented that there weren't more.

The first man went to sleep replete and satisfied. The second man went to bed with hunger gnawing at his belly.

A day came where a pair of twins within the tribe became eligible for marriage. The two young men married the two young women on the same day.

The first man thanked the gods for the blessing of his beautiful and gentle wife. The second man lamented his bad luck, for his wife had a shrewish tongue and disliked everything he did.

In due course, children arrived to both men, however one child in each family did not survive childhood.

The first man mourned his loss, but thanked the gods for the blessing of his child's life, even if short. He responded to his loss by appreciating and loving his other children all the more. The second man cursed the gods for sending him the tragedy of a lost child. In his bitterness, he turned his back upon his other children lest they die too.

Time passed, the children grew up and moved away.

The first man celebrated their maturity, and wished them well in their lives. The second man saw his loneliness and cursed his children for abandoning him.

In the end, the angel of death came for both men, his shroud covering the light, his scythe singing through the air.

The first man was at ease, and accepted the end of his life in peace. The second froze with terror, and gasped, "But I have not lived!"

The first man sought to comfort his friend, for they had lived their lives as neighbours. "My friend, we have had the same life, there is much to be thankful for."

The second man, looked at his neighbour aghast, and exclaimed, "Out lives have been nothing alike! Your life has been blessed and mine has been cursed."

The angel of death, swept his scythe through a glittering arc, taking both men's souls away. He looked upon their bodies resting in absolute stillness and remarked, "You were both right."