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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Fruit (10/10/05)
Eve clung to her son’s arm, begging him to stay. She could not bear to lose her first-born, regardless of what he had done. She felt him pulling away, gently at first, and then prying her fingers back forcibly. The sight of dried blood, still visible around his fingernails, made her retch onto the dusty ground. She lost her grip on his arm and then he was gone.

“Don’t leave me!” she screamed into the night. “It’s not your fault!” Her words echoed all around her, haunting her with their brutal truth. It wasn’t his fault. No, the blame was hers alone.

She stumbled forward in the darkness, then sank to her knees. Her hands clutched at the dirt as she sobbed. Small stones scraped against her fingers, drawing blood, but it wasn’t enough. She deserved more pain. She should be shedding her lifeblood.

A hand gripped her shoulder. She jumped to embrace her returning son, but came face-to-face with her husband.

“Eve.” His voice was hoarse. He pulled her to his chest and clung to her with the same helpless desperation that she felt. His tears wet her hair and his arms held her so tightly it hurt. It didn’t hurt enough.

Eve pulled back and looked into his eyes, searching in vain for some reassurance, some peace. “They’re both gone. Forever.”

“I know.”

“It’s my fault.” The weight of her guilt threatened to crush her. She wished it would. She didn’t want to draw another breath.

“No.” He held her face in both hands so she couldn’t look away. “Cain is responsible for his own actions.”

She wrenched herself out of his grip and stepped away from him. “It’s my fault.”

“Eve, don’t do this.”

“Don’t do what? Say it out loud? Admit the truth that we both know? It’s my fault!” she screamed. “All of it. All of these years of suffering. The pain, the back-breaking labour, the anger and impatience, the sickness and hunger – all of those things I could live with. I could take the blame for those things and we could move on. But this…my sons…”

“Don’t, Eve.”

“Abel is dead and Cain is cursed by God. Both of them are gone from us forever. I can’t…I can’t live with that guilt.” She sank to the ground again and stabbed her fingers into her hair, pulling, twisting, trying to numb the pain in her soul.

Suddenly Adam was beside her again, pulling her into his strong embrace. He rocked her gently, whispering soft syllables and stroking her hair. After several minutes, he softly spoke. “We both bear the blame of bringing sin into this world, but neither of us is responsible for the actions of our sons.”

Eve tried to believe his words, but they didn’t ring true. She’d started it all. None of this would have happened if she hadn’t touched that fruit. The details of that day were seared into her memory. The tempting words of the serpent. The aroma of the luscious fruit hanging just within her reach. The warm, smooth skin of the fruit that seemed to rebuke her and seduce her at the same time. That moment of ecstasy as the sweet juice flooded her senses and tingled its way down to her belly.

Eve moaned as the memories kept coming. Her outstretched hand offering the fruit to her husband. Delight at watching him experience the same sensations. And then the sudden realization of what they had done. They’d had to face God, bearing the stains of their guilt. Then they’d been banished forever from their home.

Now Eve sat in her husband’s arms and wept inconsolably. Together, they mourned the loss of their sons. And they clung to each other as tightly as they did to the hope that someday God would bring relief from the pain of their sin.
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This article has been read 1485 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Sally Hanan
10/17/05
Excellent, and a wonderful reminder of our escape route from shame.
Cyndie Odya-Weis
10/17/05
nice! good flow, heavy message in a pleasuable read.
Helga Doermer
10/18/05
I wonder why this heavy burden continues to rest on the shoulders of women.
Lori Othouse 
10/18/05
Wow, this was powerful. Their guilt must have been unimaginable, but praise God for our Savior!
Sandra Petersen
10/18/05
Excellent! You managed to convey very well the pain and guilt Eve must have felt, and the desire to bring pain on herself in punishment for her part in the sin. Ouch!!
janet rubin
10/18/05
Wonderful job. Nothing has changed since then, has it? I can relate to Eve and so many moms can relate to blaming themselves for their children's sins.
Lisa Graham
10/19/05
This powerful piece is so rich in meaning, and written with eloquence that I can see each character, and feel each emotion. It is heart-rending and thought-provoking.
Alexandra Wilkin
10/19/05
This is probably the most emotional and emotive story in the OT, and you did'nt flinch. The powerful expressions of love and guilt were conveyed very strongly, and we feel absolute sympathy with Eve. Would like to have seen more of Adam's sense of guilt drawn out, though he is right to remind his wife that Cain is responsible for his own sin, and this gives the piece good balance. Great stuff. God bless.
Suzanne R
10/20/05
Your description of Eve's pain and feelings of guilt was powerful. Well done.
Amy Michelle Wiley 
10/21/05
Powerful story. Well done!
Pat Guy
10/21/05
"It didn't hurt enough." says it all. You convey these truths with powerful words and skill. Very good work.
Garnet Miller 
10/21/05
Wow! I didn't read that in my Bible! Just kidding:) I love the way you fleshed out the characters into people we can identify with (through anguish from our own sins) and mourn for. Thank God that we now have relief in Jesus Christ. Excellent article!
Linda Watson Owen
10/21/05
Eve's character and reality came alive with the touch of your pen! Excellent!
terri tiffany
10/21/05
WOW! Great description of her anguish! You took her feelings and delivered them with such depth! great job!
J. C. Lamont
10/21/05
Wow. Ditto to EVERYTHING every one said here. I was almost in tears.
Jeffrey Snell
10/21/05
Superb! You've written a gut-wrenchingly accurate portrayal of what Eve must have been feeling/thinking--what we all feel and think when we sin against God. Thank you for writing this--it touched my spirit.
Julianne Jones
10/21/05
I don't know if I've ever given much thought to how Eve must have felt about Cain leaving - losing Abel, yes, but Cain, no. Yet both were her sons. You've done a fantastic job of bringing this to life. And as others have said, we can all relate to it. A truly superb piece. Well done.
Joanne Malley
10/23/05
I love how you formed Adam and Eve into relatable characters. Wonderfully written; pulls at any mother's heartstrings and reminds us of the importance and necessity of adhering to God's words. Blessings.