They stood naked, shivering and awkward behind the biggest tree they could find. Shamed and humiliated, they didn’t dare to look at their own bodies, let alone one another’s. Childlike acceptance was dead, and in its place stood barbed, throbbing regret. There was no going back now. Robbed of innocence, even the very ground had seemed to sting and bite them as they ran to hide.

Eve stood defiant, her eyes full of blame. Adam couldn’t bear to even look at her, wanting the ‘flesh of his flesh’ to leave him alone to clear his head and work out what he would say.

Then they heard the TERRIBLE sound of God walking in the garden. It had never been terrible before. It had made them run towards Him, scampering playfully, knowing deep, shared joy and fun was on the horizon; peaceful communion; family; friendship; love. But that was then… What had they done? Had one piece of fruit really undone all this beauty?

Knowledge of evil filled every pore, every fibre and sinew. They knew evil thoughts, feelings and desires for the first time; thoughts, feelings and desires that began to rot the purity of the divine in them. They felt it bleeding away, leaking loving trust and withering their spirits as it left. Gaping holes where once comforting friendship with God and with each other had been, began to be gnawed into their souls.

Their Father called to them. They held their breath, hoping He would pass by. But He called again.
“‘Where are you my children?”
Neither answered. Adam’s eyes darted fearfully around as he scratched the unfamiliarly hard earth with his toe. Eve tossed back her hair, angry and defensive, reaching into her newly-tainted mind for another to throw the cloak of blame upon.

Everything in her screamed out. “It’s not my fault. I was tricked!” A sudden lurching pain gripped her deep in her stomach and made her open her mouth in agony.

God stood still, His wonderful, creative breath hanging limp in the dark silence as He turned to face them.
“Why are you hiding?” He said, His voice slowly deliberate and pungent with sadness. He sensed that sin was present and the weight of it was suffocating.

“We…we have no clothes to cover our bodies,” they protested lamely.

“And who told you you were naked?” God enquired gently.

“We just…. knew.”
Adam spoke, holding Eve to blame. Dischord and enmity filled the air.
Eve’s anger spattered out as the bullets of her mind let rip. “It was the snake! He tricked me! Nothing to do with me!” Her tongue dripped the venom well. Naturally.

God stared at his beloved children.
They talked and acted like complete strangers. He read Eve’s mind and God saw that it was bad. The opposite of all He’d felt until now. She stood looking back at Him, haughty pride mixing with regret in her confused eyes.

“Come out,” said God, eventually – (words that His son would say to every evil spirit He encountered.)
“Are you going to make me?” said Eve, in her heart.

And in His wounded spirit, God ached.
“I aready did,” He sighed. And out of the corner of His mind He began to plan their rescue.