1.
Adam stood staring at the fruit in Eve’s hand, studying its bright skin, noticing its color, texture, and the juicy flesh where she had just taken a bite. Probing it with his eyes he tried to see something unusual, searching its very essence for a sign that this was the forbidden fruit. To be forbidden it looked disappointingly ordinary. His mind went back to earlier that morning when he had raced Eve up the tree for some fruit and she had won, and then how good it had tasted as they shared the prize. The exhilaration of it all! The exquisite beauty and variety of this garden overwhelmed his senses: its melodic sounds, its lavish colors, its tastes, fragrances, and the pure, physical substance of it all.
Best of all was Eve, she glowed with beauty, from her voice and companionship to her exuberant joy over everything, her fun and high spirits, and her love. Yet better than any of that was their unity, something they shared just between them, the animals weren’t a part of it. They’d spend hours talking in depth over the things Creator God told them, learning and understanding more and more as they listened to the other’s words. What a gift! Adam thought. What a perfect mate for me! But then, Creator God did everything perfect, what would he have expected? This Creator God, this Friend who walked with them every evening filled the garden with love, security, and a life that permeated the very air they breathed.
Every day they looked forward to the companionship he brought when he came, enjoying together this garden that belonged to the three of them. Adam again felt that delicious satisfaction of pleasing Creator God by fulfilling Adam’s own responsibilities well. As they talked Adam would go over what they had done that day, recounting for Creator God the names of the animals and explaining his thoughts and reasons for what he had done. Intermingling with Adam’s discussion on the garden were Eve’s observations, happily telling about the animals (especially the babies) and asking many questions that showed again Eve’s depth of insight. Somehow, talking with Creator God brought new ideas to mind, new revelations on things in the garden. The pure rhythm and beauty of it blended together, delighting both Adam and Eve.
That reminded him, he wanted to ask Creator God tonight why there were so many animals, and why such a variety, it had piqued his curiosity. He enjoyed the dawning understanding of Creator God’s purposes in the garden and in them, and of what they fulfilled in Creator God. The pleasure they received from each other, the Creator and the created, brought a rush of joy in him just thinking about it. It wasn’t that they were with him only in the evenings either, but they knew his presence continually throughout the days—a hovering, loving, warm presence hugging them with pride and satisfaction. They glowed with a vitality and life that came from being in Creator God’s continual presence, a residue that covered them just from being his children. Sometimes Adam thought he would burst with the exhilaration of it all, the thrill of discovery as they explored the garden, as they fulfilled the responsibility Creator God had placed on them. This Creator had birthed them and given life to their forms. They constantly felt his attention as he loved and taught them. How he, Adam, wanted to please him, this Creator God who had done everything for them. What a pleasure to be his child, his creation, his object of delight.
2.
Adam glanced up from the fruit, meeting Eve’s excited, encouraging eyes, eyes begging him to experience all of life with her. She had actually taken a bite of the forbidden fruit, but as he studied her face nothing appeared to have changed. Maybe what the talking animal said was true. Its logic made a curious sort of sense, though at the moment the talking animal had nothing to say as its eyes held them in an unwavering stare, as if it were holding its breath.
It was strange how strongly Creator God had spoken about not eating off that tree, not that it mattered much to Adam, not with all the other trees around. What’s one tree? He hadn’t given it that much thought. Eve, on the other hand, was filled with a fascination and curiosity that had been hard to deal with. He couldn’t figure out why she was so interested in what was forbidden. It wasn’t that she wanted the fruit, they had plenty of other fruit that was delicious, it was as if having it taken away made it more desirable for Eve. Yet he had to admit that there had been times when he also thought about it, puzzling over why it was forbidden. Once he and Eve had even walked the distance to stand staring at it and wondering how the forbidden tree could look so ordinary. The animal had told them there was even a name for that tree, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Wouldn’t Creator God want them to have that knowledge? Good and Evil sounds important, can they really take care of the garden if they don’t know all there is to know? The garden belongs to them and they want to do the best they can. But Creator God said they would die, eating the fruit would take away their life. Would he really do that to his pride and joy? The talking animal said he wouldn’t, it was just that Creator God didn’t want them to know everything. Adam felt a wave of something unfamiliar flit over him, wishing that Eve had left the tree alone, wishing that he had pulled her away from this animal instead of lingering and listening to its words. The things it said caused him to think too much, he had never felt such confusing and conflicting thoughts. The words from this talking animal were different from the words Creator God said. Did it know things they didn’t about Creator God? Was this talking animal wiser than Adam?
He struggled to gain control over his thoughts, glancing down once again at the ordinary-looking fruit Eve was holding out to him. What would it be like to lose our life, he thought. Yet the life in Eve doesn’t look any different.
Maybe it was a test, maybe Creator God just wanted to see if they would really eat one. What if he wanted them to eat it, because that would show him that they had confidence and boldness and were willing to do anything to subdue this creation they had been put in charge of, that nothing would keep them from what he had assigned them to do. Possibly Creator God wanted to see if they had it in them to stand up for themselves, to be self-sufficient. But then again, Creator God had been adamant when he told Adam not to eat it. He wished Eve had been there when Creator God had talked about the forbidden tree, it would have been nice to have a second opinion on this whole thing. But she hadn’t been there, hadn’t heard that serious tone in his voice, that thread of steel behind the words. Of course, it was too late now, Eve, bless her heart, had already eaten part of the forbidden fruit. She knew better, and she had eaten it anyway. Her action produced struggles in him he had never dealt with before.
He suddenly felt protective of her, as if for the first time he needed to shield her from something. She belonged to him, she was his, created especially for him, and she was the crowning glory of everything Creator God had made. Adam had been so lonesome, felt so incomplete before her creation. Not only that, but Creator God had made her at his request, well, begging was more like it. But he had done it, Creator God had created a being just for him, and having her was wonderful, nothing like being alone. Everything was different with her, whether it was working or playing. She was his to care for, though Eve was as strong and capable as he was, but she wouldn’t even be here if it hadn’t been for him. He couldn’t allow anything to separate them, not even this.
Adam’s eyes moved from the fruit to Eve. She’s perfectly fine, nothing’s changed. She looks and acts the same. Maybe you have to eat the whole thing, that’s probably it, you have to eat it all and she’s only taken one bite.
Adam wished the animal would stop staring at him with that expectant look in its eyes. It made him uncomfortable. This animal didn’t make sense, it seemed out of harmony with the rest of the garden. The other animals didn’t talk so this must be a new one. Creator God must still be creating animals. So far Adam and Eve had been the only ones who talked. This animal appeared to think like man, he could reason. But the forbidden fruit? She had actually eaten the forbidden fruit? After all Adam had said about leaving it alone? It looked so ordinary, how could it be so special, so dangerous, so untouchable?
And now Eve had picked a piece of the fruit that he himself had never dared touch. Stunned, he had watched as she took a tentative bite. At the time, everything in him seemed frozen, even his thoughts. It was that animal who had made her bold enough, it had challenged them. Why hadn’t he, Adam, stopped her, stood up against this animal? It was as if his head was divided into two parts, each butting against the other like the goat kids as they played. Adam was no longer sure what his head was saying, it seemed to be full of questioning, not like Eve’s questions to Creator God but as if the questions were wrestling inside his head, first one on top and then another. Yet standing here thinking all day wouldn’t change anything. What was he going to do with this fruit now? Eve didn’t seem very concerned with what she had done. Maybe he had blown it all out of proportion, had built it up in his own imagination until he had made it more than it was. No, not with the tone of voice Creator God had used, Adam hadn’t made that up.
The thing to do was just take the whole mess to Creator God, tell him what she had done, and see what happened. Adam would cover her with his own love, protect her from whatever happened. Let it happen to him instead, if that would keep her from being taken away from him. After all, he, Adam, was the first created, and Eve was his gift. Creator God was happy with his creation, surely he wouldn’t really do anything. His love was a continual thing, radiating out to them in waves, a warmth and acceptance Creator God would never take away, he loved them too much to remove the life he has placed in them. Even now Adam felt Creator God’s blanket of love and security encasing him. Okay, the best thing to do is to ask Creator God what to do with Eve and this piece of forbidden fruit.
Yet, what if something happened to Eve before he talked to Creator God, or what if Creator God took her away from him. He would be back to where he was before Eve had been created, so lonely, so quiet, so singular, so incomplete. He couldn’t face that, not after having her, after holding her, after all the companionship, and besides, he loved her, loved her with everything in him. She was a part of him, she had come from his body. If something happened to her he would cease to exist too, even if he hadn’t eaten the fruit. He couldn’t face life in the garden without her. The best thing here was to take a bite of the fruit also, that way they’d be together whatever happened. Besides, if she had all knowledge and he didn’t it would change things between them. Creator God might even put her in charge of the garden instead of him. She would have experienced something that he hadn’t. The best thing to do was to take a bite, at least then they’d be together whatever happened. Yes, he would take a bite too.
Adam reached out and without hesitating took the fruit from Eve’s hand. Whether it was from confidence in his decision or to do it before he changed his mind he couldn’t have said, but with one quick movement he took the fruit, lifted it to his lips and bit off a piece, noticing as he did so that it smelled as ordinary as it looked.
One small bite. One simple decision. One single act that lasted only a few seconds, and Creator God’s created world would never be the same. Mankind would never be the same. And Creator God would never be the same.
3.
Adam chewed for a moment, waiting on some momentous change, a catastrophe, some horrible consequence—something! With the lack of anything earth-shattering happening his focus shifted to the fruit he chewed. Good, yes, but not any better than anything he had eaten so far, in fact it didn’t seem as good as the prize from their race that morning. For a moment there was a sense of disappointment, of being let down, a vague feeling that Creator God had misled them. Had this been a trick all along, or a test? Maybe it was like the talking animal had said, they wouldn’t die, they would just know everything. But Creator God had said they would die. Yet here they stand, Adam holding the fruit in his hand and Eve studying his face for his reaction, waiting on him to validate their disobedience.
He was puzzled with this whole thing, none of it made sense. It had been such a big deal to Creator God, or seemed to be, them not eating this fruit, yet nothing had happened. Though he couldn’t form the words inside of him, there was a strange feeling of doubt toward Creator God. Maybe this talking animal had already eaten of the tree and gained all knowledge, that’s why it knew nothing would happen.
Even in the midst of his confusion and indecision, Adam felt the change, felt the delicate shift. A feeling crawled over his skin, what was it? It was like when they had been running through the garden and came to the river where the cave was. It had a place where they could stand behind the waterfall and feel that cool, refreshing breeze as sheets of water hurled over the cliff in front of them. Only this coolness wasn’t exhilarating, it made his skin feel strange. Shivering, his eyes met Eve’s and there was a spark of recognition between them, she too had felt it. As if an imperceptible something had lifted, had been removed, leaving them vulnerable and alone. But that was why he had eaten the fruit, so he wouldn’t feel alone, yet he suddenly felt more alone than he had ever felt, even before Eve. As if he had lost something precious, like stepping out of one of those cocoons he and Eve had watched. That was it, like he had just left a safe and loving cocoon and stepped out into something that was too big and confusing and … like he was seeing everything differently. Would Creator God notice? Would he see that something was different? He had to, he always knew everything. Would he act differently toward them? Creator God was so joyful and loving, would—could that change? Adam felt his stomach tighten at the thought.
Together, standing in an unnatural silence, they experienced new sensations and emotions that kept their minds whirling. Somehow Adam suspected Creator God would hold him responsible for this disobedience. He had been created first and he was the one who had personally been told not to eat the fruit. The responsibility for this just might be on his shoulders. Well that wasn’t right, Eve was the one who had eaten it first, he would never had eaten it if she hadn’t, besides he had only done it so he wouldn’t be separated from her. Creator God couldn’t blame him. And they hadn’t eaten the whole thing, just a couple of bites.
Only then did Adam notice that the talking animal had left, and they stood there alone. Oh, so alone.
4.
As strong as the feelings were that were surfacing, the awareness of emptiness and vulnerability became stronger still. Something had left him, something was gone. He had lost his feeling of security, of safety, the joy of being alive and the wonder of the garden, yet from what he could see nothing had changed. They still looked the same, seemed the same. Neither had ceased to exist, they obviously still had life. Again he studied Eve looking for change, and as he did he noticed something interesting, welcoming the distraction this new realization brought. All the animals had coverings, beautiful ones of hair, fur, shells, scales, or feathers, magnificent in their colorings and uniqueness. Of all the animals he had seen so far, he and Eve alone were uncovered. How strange, why didn’t Creator God give them a covering like the animals, especially considering their position above them? Shouldn’t they be more beautiful, with a covering more magnificent than the animals? And his, Adam’s, should be the most splendid since he was the first man, even above Eve. After all, he was in charge of the whole garden, it was his domain, his world, his responsibility. He should be able to do anything he wanted in this garden, hadn’t Creator God put him over it? And if that was so, then why shouldn’t he eat of any fruit he wanted?
It was unbelievable that Creator God would leave him so naked, a great oversight. The animals couldn’t respect him as their keeper with his hairless body, they had probably been laughing at him all along. Well, the first thing to do was to take care of it. The talking animal had a beautiful covering, maybe it thought it was more important than Adam. With all knowledge it would scorn Adam’s naked body, thinking it had charge over Adam’s garden. He certainly must do something to cover himself and Eve before they went to find the talking animal and ask questions. How could Adam not have noticed their nakedness before?
What about Creator God, what would happen later this evening when he came to walk with them, because Creator God would know what they had done. Is that when they would cease to exist, when Creator God would take the life in them away? If only there was some way he could stop the punishment, or somehow protect Eve from it. No, it was her fault, this whole mess they’d gotten into, and somehow, even without seeing a tangible difference, Adam knew it was a major mess. Would Creator God take Adam’s garden away from him, giving it to the talking animal instead? But it was his garden, his responsibility, and he loved it, Creator God couldn’t take it away. Not for this one mistake, they’d always done everything Creator God wanted before, this was the first time they’d … what? Before eating this forbidden fruit, his and Eve’s days were woven together as one with Creator God, joyfully moving and connecting and living in a flow of unity. The three of them were one. But now something had changed, and even though he couldn’t see any difference Adam felt the division, as if he and Eve had suddenly taken a turn away from Creator God, splitting their unity the way the path to the river suddenly split off toward the bear’s den, where they often went to watch the cubs play.
The longer Adam’s thoughts spun out of control the more vulnerable, ugly, and dirty he felt. He was the one that mattered here. How was he going to get out of this? For the first time in his perfect life Adam’s focus was on himself: his nakedness, his imagined loss of respect, his possible loss of control, the fact that Eve might receive less punishment, and what might be taken away from him. He forgot that he ate the apple to protect Eve or to take her punishment and he now resented the possibility that she might receive a lesser punishment. Death didn’t play a big part in his fears of the moment, he had no concept of death and was obviously very much alive, and there were more pressing matters to worry about right now than death. The triumph of having all knowledge didn’t enter his thoughts either, there were too many other new emotions vying for his attention.
Tossing what was left of the fruit into the grass he spoke. “Well, I can’t tell any difference, but I suspect Creator God will know we’ve eaten it. I told you we were never to eat off that tree, why did you listen to that animal?”
“You stood there and watched me, why didn’t you say something?” Eve defended herself.
“Never mind,” Adam responded in a tone of voice he’d never before used, nor even felt. “Now we need to figure this out before Creator God comes. Let’s try to find the talking animal and ask it some questions, but first we need to find something to cover ourselves, you know, like the animals have over their skin.”
5.
For the first time since Adam had been in the garden, it had been a long day. The more he tried to figure out what to do, the more confused his thoughts seemed to get, and the more he dreaded meeting Creator God. He just needed time to think. He actually wished Eve would go away somewhere and leave him alone, which was odd because he had always delighted in her continual presence. The thought of being alone again had never appealed to him in any way, and now here he was wishing she would go somewhere else so he could think.
As if reading his thoughts Even suggested they split up to find the animal and turning, she walked away. She’d gone off in the past to do something without Adam but this time it felt different, as if the unity they’d had was broken, each thinking separate thoughts that didn’t include the other.
Now that he thought about it, it had been a day of many firsts: new emotions, new feelings, and a vulnerability he had never known before, as if the security and peace of the garden had been ripped away, leaving him feeling alone and lost. However, worse than that was the dread, almost more than he could bear, of meeting Creator God, an emotion that seemed almost tangible in its strength and control over his thoughts. He felt a heaviness that caused him to look around him warily, as if Creator God might surprise them with his presence. He couldn’t surprise them, because his presence was so strong it was a part of them, it was the very atmosphere they breathed, and they knew of his approach without even thinking about it. But today, today was different. Today the air felt empty, like there wasn’t enough to fill his lungs, as if the sustaining life that flowed through the air they breathed was missing. Empty air, that’s what it was.
Where was Eve, he would ask her if she had noticed it. Where had she gone and why wasn’t she in sight, it wasn’t like her to go wondering off without him. She had been strangely quiet ever since they’d eaten the fruit. Well, if her mind was as upside down as his he could see why, he had not had much to say either. As if they had each become focused inward on their own thoughts, their own reactions and questions. She also felt this heaviness and foreboding, he could tell by looking at her. He would never have dreamed that anything could split the unity between them, yet they seemed torn apart by this act, dividing their thoughts and feelings as surely as the rock in the river divided the water that flowed around it. Normally her presence joyfully consumed him, now his thoughts and emotions isolated him from her.
Suddenly the garden seemed spoiled, the fun gone, the joy and delight turned into a dread. The insecurity of not knowing what was coming brought a sudden unknown element into his world. Something was wrong, terribly wrong, and he didn’t know what it was. He only knew that something had changed, and it wasn’t good. Nothing since that moment he had eaten the fruit had been good. That’s when it had started, when they purposely ate what Creator God had told them not to eat.
6.
A sound nearby startled him, and looking up he noticed Eve walking toward him. There was something different about her. It was in the way she walked, the way she held her shoulders, that drooping of her head.
Oh Eve, Eve, what have we done? Oh Creator God, what have we done? There. That was another thing that he could finally put into words, as he called on his Creator God to silence the turmoil. That presence, where was it? That was the worst of what this day had brought, the presence was different, no, it was gone. As if Creator God had abandoned him, gone somewhere else where Adam couldn’t find him. Not that Adam wanted to right now, he wasn’t yet ready to learn the consequences of eating the forbidden fruit. He knew that he had only to want Creator God’s presence and he would be there. Usually Adam was so busy tending the garden and the animals that they met together late in the afternoon, as the quiet evening was beginning to settle over the garden bringing a cool breeze and a softening to the sun’s brilliance. Then, as they walked, the three of them would talk over the day’s activities. But for the first time ever, Adam didn’t want his Creator God’s presence. In fact, that was the last thing he wanted right now. He was still thinking about how to approach this whole thing, still trying to figure out what to do, how to fix this confusion and disobedience before Creator God found out. The last thing they needed right now was for him to show up before Adam figured out what to do. But he had spent all day trying to figure it out, and he was nowhere nearer a solution than he had been in the beginning. Oh his head, it was so crowded with thoughts that his shoulders and neck were weary from the tension of thinking.
He had been forced into a decision, a decision he had never expected nor wanted to make, but he had chosen wrongly. He had been making choices all along, choices about the garden and its animals, choices of what to do first, where to go, and what to eat, but they had never been choices like this, one that, once made, could not be undone, bringing this feeling of panic and confusion. His mind, usually crisp and clear in its thoughts, now seemed befuddled and thick. It wasn’t that those choices hadn’t mattered, but they didn’t bring about an irreversible consequence. Was it irreversible? Couldn’t Creator God just fix it?
Learning that Eve hadn’t found the talking animal either they split up again to continue the search. As Adam walked around a tree an animal looked up, one that he and Eve had enjoyed playing with, and Adam reached out to caress its soft fur, needing something tangible to hold and cling to, but instead of its usual affectionate nature the animal turned and walked away. That was the first physical evidence Adam saw of the change, striking terror into him over all the possible consequences of their act.
Resting his face in his hands Adam relished the feel of his cool fingers on his tired eyes. He rubbed the back of his neck. What was Eve feeling about this? What did it matter anyway, he needed to think. Everything would have been fine if the talking animal had just stayed away and left them alone. She would have still been curious and maybe even have picked one, but she would never have actually eaten any if it hadn’t talked her into it. As they had stood there listening to the talking animal Adam had felt his mind fill with questions, paralyzing his thoughts as he tried to understand what the animal meant, and then, before it was too late to stop her, Eve reached out and took a bite. Where had this talking animal come from anyway? Adam had never seen it before, or known of its existence, not one that talked and reasoned like man. Was Adam keeper over this animal too, or was it special? Did Creator God love it better than Adam? Maybe Creator God wanted to walk and talk with it now more than Adam and Eve, or maybe the worst thing imaginable, what if Creator God took the garden away from Adam and gave it to this talking animal? No, that was too horrible to even consider, and just the thought left a strange feeling in his stomach, reminding Adam that he had not eaten anything since this morning’s bite of forbidden fruit, and his stomach felt strange, empty, and while eating had always been a pleasure, he couldn’t face it now.
Oh, for it to be yesterday, before all this confusion, all this mess, before this act of disobedience. What had happened to turn today into this intrusion of thoughts and bewilderedness? Everything looked the same, why weren’t things going on as usual—the joy, the pleasures of the garden, the clarity of thinking and the pure exuberance of life? And where was the mantle of Creator God’s love and security, he’d never been without it. His very existence seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders. By now the thought of meeting Creator God filled him with terror, a feeling he’d never experienced, and of what he didn’t know, which gave the terror an added dimension. Maybe once he talked with Creator God he would be able to think clearly again, he would understand what had happened. Maybe somehow it could be fixed, this eating of the forbidden fruit. Well, he would find out all too soon.
7.
No matter how hard they tried the talking animal was nowhere to be seen. Adam had hung around the forbidden tree off and on throughout the day, occasionally wandering off but always ending up back at the tree, hoping to find it there. It seemed to have knowledge, maybe it would have the answers to Adam’s questions. It had obviously eaten of the tree as it knew much more than they did. But hanging around the forbidden tree had added its own feelings to the mix. In a mere few hours Adam had grown to hate the tree, hating the whole area as it was a constant reminder of what they had done. It was the source of all the confusion and the cause of the problem. The tree also brought to Adam’s attention the fact that Creator God had refused him something. This Creator God that loved Adam had intentionally held something back, hadn’t seen fit to give the gift of this special tree to him. This realization caused him to wonder if his Creator God really loved him as much as Adam had thought he did. Questions, questions, that’s all Adam had anymore, just swarms of questions tumbling around in his brain, fighting for attention.
Hanging around here by the tree all afternoon also brought a feeling of insecurity. Where was this animal? Would it surprise him from behind, popping out of nowhere and startling him? Yesterday it was funny when the monkeys jumped from the trees above and surprised them, but now the idea of the talking animal suddenly showing up brought dread, even as desperate as he was to talk to it. Maybe it’s with Eve, maybe that’s where she is, talking with this animal and getting answers without him. He had eaten the fruit for her sake, just so he could stay with her, and here she was off talking with that new animal, as if Adam didn’t even matter, like he hadn’t done something awful just for her sake.
Suddenly, the thought of this talking creation overwhelmed Adam, blinding him with emotions, as if he were sinking into a darkness that was tangible and suffocating, that empty air feeling again. Then a soft, familiar voice beside him pulled him out of the inward spiral and for a moment everything was all right again. She’s beautiful, he thought as his grateful eyes drank in her sweetness and freshness. It’ll be okay, we’ll get through this and everything will be good again. I’ve just been thinking too much. This is why I need Eve; her very presence is joy.
However, even as his eyes drank in her beauty he saw what she had done. The large leaves interwoven with grasses draped over her shoulders, marring the beauty of her form, interrupting the flow of that effervescent skin in its waterfall of beauty, from the perfect face to her feet hidden in the soft green grass. He fought the urge to laugh at the ridiculousness of it when he saw her earnest eyes pleading for him to understand. Standing there in front of her he suddenly felt uncovered, unadorned, a vulnerability in his eyes at her glance. She reached out her hand and for the second time that day, offered him something. This time it was a covering of leaves, similar to hers. This is another first, he thought, feeling an awkwardness in front of her as he pulled the covering over his head to rest on his shoulders, feeling it’s roughness against his skin. How unnatural and clumsy it feels, he thought. They stood and looked at each other in silence, that uncomfortable break in unity still forming a wall between them. “Well, it’s hardly what the animals wear is it, but I guess it’ll have to do for now.” He could tell from the look on her face that she had expected more of a response from him on her creativity and hard work, but she left it alone. What was he supposed to say? We look ridiculous? I’m so grateful that you made something for me that I resent having to wear. And yet it had been his idea …
The evening coolness settling over the garden suddenly caught his attention, and the whole issue with the coverings no longer mattered. The realization of what the evening would bring once again filled him with a dark panic that threatened to sweep him off his feet and into the nothingness that Creator God had said would happen. Is this it, am I ceasing to exist even now? He cried out in fear and felt Eve’s arms around him, once again bringing him back to reality.
“What are we going to do?” The anguish in his voice threatened to overwhelm him again. Suddenly, with clarity and understanding, he realized that the very worst thing that could happen and the very best thing that could happen to them right now were the same thing—if only Creator God would come, he would somehow fix this mess they had gotten themselves into.
8.
Adam’s terror knew no bounds and he found it hard to put one foot in front of the other. His usual exuberance and energy seemed to have drained out of him the way the honey had drained from the honeycomb the day they had left it lying in the sun. He wished he could lay down in the cool grass and rest. Barely aware of Eve’s presence beside him, he made his way toward the place where they would walk with Creator God.
“Adam?”
That voice that had once brought a joyful response now chilled Adam to the bone. There was no anger in the voice of Creator God, just love and anguish, but Adam’s words caught in his throat and terror choked him. He forgot about the uncomfortable covering and his excuses for what he had done. He forgot about the talking animal and the questions. The moment had come, and he stood frozen in his tracks, unable to move or speak.
“Adam, where are you?”
His thoughts began to spin faster and faster until he couldn’t think straight, a blackness he’d never known swam before his eyes, and he couldn’t make any sense out of what to do or what to think. This must be what death feels like, Adam thought. The time had come, and Adam, with Eve following him, stepped out into the open and looked up.