Blissless

I know many things since consuming the fruit of the world tree. I remember the slow realization, as if waking from a dream, as the fruit dissolved in my stomach. The realization that the world was much bigger than my mind could previously comprehend. I distinctly remember feeling the sun beating down on me, warming me, and appreciating it for the first time.

As the last of the fruit digested I understood…

Him.

Not His intentions, but His words.

“You shall not take from this tree, for the fruit is not yours to take, nor any other creature of the Earth’s.”

How was I to know that? I thought as I heard Him speak to His newest creations, those made in His image.

“Your will is our order.” they spoke in unison.

“No action is required of you, my children. The creatures know, and will obey.”

Who is He to deny them this? My thoughts explored, almost without permission. Is this His to keep from them? I no longer sauntered along, the day and night passing without a thought. I could feel, and know the good around me. Who am I to keep it for myself?

So I watched and learned; about them, about the world, about how I could convince them to take what He denied them.

She was curious, he was cautious. She would do anything for knowledge, he would do anything for her.

I hung from the tree under which she was lying and told her of all I knew, and from where that knowledge came. She followed me back to the tree and I showed her which fruit to pick. Her eyes closed and her teeth sunk in, juice flowing down her hands and arms, from her chin to her chest, and down further, as if from a dribbling stream, until it touched each limb, her body reacting to the juice’s every movement.

Her eyes fluttered open as if from sleep. She looked down, touched the fluid on her breast, and rubbed it between her fingers. A strange look came across her face as she bit her lip, her eyes distant and determined. She breathed his name, “Adam,” and ran to get him, giggling with each footstep as, I assume, the grass tickled her.

As they entered my vision I saw her pulling him by the arm. “Ask him, ask the creature!”

He looked me up and down, then grimaced. “What is it He hides from us, creature?”

“I cannot tell you. You must find out for yourself.” He flinched as I spoke.

She turned him to herself, grabbed his hands, then placed them on her hips, her waist, her breasts, her cheeks, each time whispering, “Feel me, as I now feel you.”

He took her hand and placed it to his breast. “Feel you…” he echoed. She reached up and grabbed a fruit, placing it in his hands, and he bit it.

As I watched the one He named Michael drag the two from the garden by their feet, two of his million tendrils reaching out like flaming swords sent to punish criminals, I heard them calling out the name “Lucifer,” with blame falling on him, along with pleads to let them back in.

God came to me soon after. “You did what you were designed to do. And yet, I must still punish you.”

I turned to Him, then looked around to see who He was talking to. He squatted down and looked me in the eye, “do you like the grass on your stomach?” He was certainly talking to me.

I didn’t want to waste His time, “No… I never used to notice it. Now it bothers me.”

He touched me and my legs shrunk into me, my soft underside hitting the ground with a thud. He sat next to me to watch the sun set on His world.

“I understand why you punish me, but I do not understand your words. You say I acted as designed.”

“I did not tell you of the tree knowing you would not resist it. You had to give them the fruit, who would keep it from them?”

“You would,” I hissed.

“I couldn’t, that’s why I needed you.”

“Why use me? Why not give it to them yourself?”

“They would grow to hate me for it. Someone else had to do it.”

“You use me to cover your tracks?”

He did not answer.

“As you sent Michael to take them out of the garden they spoke of a name, Lucifer. They mentioned him when it was I who showed them the fruit. Why?”

“Ah, Lucifer. That poor, young angel. He sits in eternal isolation for his betrayal. I told them of him. They must have thought your actions were his revenge on Me.”

“Was that part of your plan as well? It’s a nicely crafted story, putting the blame on your betrayer.”

He did not answer.

“Why do you tell me any of this? I could glide on my belly to them and tell them all you have told me.”

“They would not believe you. For with the gift of knowledge comes the curse of doubt.”

I was silent for a moment, contemplating. Then I asked, “What is to become of me now?” I said as I looked away from the dark horizon and towards Him.

He did not answer, then He was gone.