Moment in the Garden

…And the LORD God commanded him, “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper."

~ Genesis


Lilith

Young Lilith, the first female human creation, runs through the Garden of Eden. She recalls the words spoken to her by God, which confuse her about her true purpose. Lilith was created from the same dust as Adam, believing herself to be his equal. Unfortunately, that was not the case, a realization she gradually came to while living in the Garden. God's purpose for creating her was to serve as Adam's helper. She obeyed because she was instructed to do so. The commandments were strict, and the rules were enforced by the Archangels who visited the Garden to counsel and guide the new creations on God's behalf. God spoke to Adam before Lilith's creation, which established Adam's dominance in their relationship—a dynamic Lilith soon resented. She felt inferior to Adam, even though she had an independent mind and questioned God's commands, while Adam did not.

The Archangels observed the conflict between them, and Lilith refused to be treated as lesser simply because she was a woman. In ancient Apocryphal writings—those excerpts and stories excluded from the main Bible—Lilith is described as Adam's first wife. However, the couple often clashed, particularly regarding matters of sex. Adam always insisted on being on top, while Lilith wanted an equal opportunity to take the dominant position. Their inability to agree ultimately led to their falling out.
Her explorations of the vast Garden helped free her mind from the various constraints that she felt were unfair.

At times, these restrictions created a sense of mental bondage; the overwhelming number of rules made her existence feel unclear and purposeless. Lilith was proud and acutely aware of the hypocrisy inherent in these rules, particularly the preferential treatment given to men over women. Young Lilith did not see herself as anyone's helper but as an equal. Her experiences in the Garden of Eden shaped her understanding of the world and her ability to trust. Young Lilith swiftly runs barefoot from her home, where she lives with Adam, toward the lush jungle and foliage that eventually lead to the breathtaking, isolated blue waterfall. On her way, she passes the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil but does not venture into that garden area. It's not that she isn't tempted or eager; she is. The commandments against eating its fruit seem like a riddle to her. The words lack clarity, and young Lilith learns to question authority instead of lingering in self-doubt. As a result, she develops self-confidence and a growing distrust of men in a male-dominated world.

As Lilith approaches the clearing near the waterfall, she feels the gaze of the soaring Archangels—Michael, Lucifer, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael—watching her from above. The Archangels glide majestically in and out of the clouds, observing her and all of God's creations. Some Angels are more curious than others. It is said that God loves His human creations above all else, and Lilith senses His pride and love for her, but why isn't that love equal?

Standing at the edge of the waterfall that day, she notices the broad and grand wings of Michael hovering above her. She can feel his eyes upon her—perhaps with curiosity? Lilith wonders if she and Michael will ever meet. There have been rumors that Archangels resent human creations; humans are often viewed as an afterthought, an extra step taken by Father (God) that hasn't received the same level of interest from the Ethereals.

Her innocent, bare form is poised at the edge of a waterfall, taking in all of God's creations with a sense of freedom. She lifts her blue eyes, the color of the heavens, to study Michael's expression. As she gazes into his eyes, Michael watches her intently in return, and she smiles at him innocently. He is a brilliant, beautiful being, shining above her, and they are both filled with curiosity for one another. Lilith takes a breath and submerges herself beneath the lake's surface. She swims gracefully, a skill she taught herself; knowledge is her passion. She seeks to understand the world around her and swims alongside the lake's creatures, exploring its various depths until she eventually settles under the colorful waterfall. Young Lilith yearns for knowledge and experience. Every moment she's away from rules and their restraints brings her joy and a sense of freedom. As the water cascades down her bare form, her gaze drifts towards the Archangel Michael, and she wonders if he plans to visit her.

Lilith has yet to meet Michael; she has noticed that many of the higher angels tend to avoid close contact, as they primarily focus on doing God's work. The creation of humans has caused some friction among the Ethereal beings, and Lilith eventually comes to realize that the Garden of Eden is not perfect.


Michael

The opinion of the Ethereal courts is, in truth, something of a ravine. The guardians adore the creatures. The cherubim despise them. The archangels have yet to agree on anything resembling a unified stance, choosing instead to remain removed from the endless arguments. Michael finds it all mundane. Father created them. Regardless of the winged host’s quarrels, that fact remains, and surely it was not without purpose. Yet despite his claims to indifference, he finds himself hovering over the garden once more. Today, the woman has retreated to the waterfalls - her chosen refuge when frustrated with her counterpart. Michael’s gaze drifts from her swimming form to the home she shares with Adam. His brow furrows. Had the dull creature truly not understood what Father intended? Did Michael himself understand it? The thought unsettles him. Helper. The word tastes cloying on his tongue, sticking there until irritation ruffles his wings. His gaze returns to the woman. He has been watching her often of late. Raphael has made pointed remarks. Uriel has asked too many questions. Gabriel is too distracted to care. And Lucifer remains as obstinate as ever, using the garden as his own private escape from the Erelim, always lingering just beyond human awareness. Deciding he may as well study her more closely, Michael descends, settling on a tall rock midway down the falls. He lowers one arm, fingertips brushing the surface until an iridescence of gold bleeds into the stream, dancing through the water with playful grace. A smile tugs faintly at the corner of his lips.

Commander of the armies. Leader of angels. Stoic, unyielding - always sure of himself. At least, that is what he is meant to be. The truth is simpler: Michael has always been a creature of small, quiet pleasures. Letting his grace shimmer through the water is one of them. And certainty - absolute, unquestionable certainty - belongs to Father alone. To deny that is foolishness, even if he is not sure why it must be so. He lingers a moment longer before turning his gaze fully to the woman below. No longer studious, but softened, engaged. “Lilith.” Her name leaves him halfway between prayer and familiarity. “Tell me, how have you found the garden?” It is an awkward question, perhaps too plain. With an angel he would already be locked in debate. But with her, he is uncertain.


Lilith

Lilith walks carefully across the smooth rocks, observing the rainbow-colored fish swimming by. She smiles down at them; nature brings her joy, and the creatures feel like friends. More than that, nature makes sense to her. There are no complicated rules; it is simply what it was. The fish approach when they sense trust and stay at a distance when they feel distrust. She steps beneath the waterfall, washing away the mud and weeds from her body. Her explorations lead her to various underwater caverns, where she marvels at God's creativity. All she wants is to make Him proud.

Adam, however, refuses to accompany her on these adventures. He is busy with his duties and insists that her explorations are not God’s priorities. He urges her to help manage the land and attend to other daily chores. With a heavy heart, she leaves their home, tears welling in her eyes as she runs across the fields until the tall trees shade her from the sunlight. As she passes by the forbidden tree, she can’t help but look at its limbs and foliage. For a moment, she stands still, taking in the sight of such controversy. Her mate, Adam, seems so distant and different from her interests and passions. Why didn’t he question these rules?

Filled with immense curiosity and questions, Lilith embodies allure and sensuality as part of her very being. Created from the same dust as Adam, she sees herself as equal to, if not stronger than, any man. Her libido is strong, and she chooses to be on top, refusing to be merely submissive during intimate moments. The waterfall is refreshing, as the stream wets her skin; the mood is serene near it. There's no judgment in nature; she becomes one with it. She notices a winged figure bending to the edge of the lake, and her head peeks past the stream.

Lilith exclaims in her thoughts - It's an Archangel! He's come down! How are they all so beautiful? Lilith's mate does not resemble any one of them. Humans are so plain... She is a woman filled with immense curiosity and questions; the allure and sensuality are a part of her DNA. Lilith was created from equal dust, as was Adam. Her psyche identifies her very being as equal and strong (if not stronger), like any man. Her libido is strong, and she chooses to be on top and not only be submissively placed beneath during sexual intercourse. Lilith is captivated by the Archangel's golden hues and gracefully dives into the water after hearing her name. She submerges, swims alongside the aquatic creatures, and then re-emerges closer to the edge. Water glistens down her face, neck, and cleavage. "Yes?" The stunning angel asks- Tell me, how have you found the garden?

After a moment's pause, "Hmm, that will be a longer visit, then?" She raises an eyebrow playfully and asks, "And what may I call you?" The feel of paradise is only possible in Eden, when she's discovering and exploring God's stunning creations. What good is paradise when one is confined to a hut?!


Michael

He had overheard their arguments as of late. They had seemed foolish to him. Father was not concerned with method, only outcome. A child was to be born, and that was enough. Adam’s fixation on being master over her struck Michael as strange. Command was not dominance. Even in the host, creation and continuance were shared burdens. Angels had not simply sprung into existence. Father had drawn them through the Erelim, woven them into being with intent. Multiplication was part of the order itself. Michael had fathered children of his own, though not nearly as many as Raphael or Gabriel. Lucifer’s brood seemed endless. Uriel was still too young for such things. His thoughts slid back to Lilith. She was… artistry. A being who carried strength in her bones, as many of Father’s other creations did. Docility, it seemed, was Adam’s invention alone. Even this morning Michael had caught whispers among his daughters, none of them spoke kindly of the man.

But perfection had never been promised. Father had almost laughed when He spoke of it, amused by the idea of a creation that would stumble, err, and choose for itself. Lucifer had pressed the question, and Father’s only answer had been patience. Patience, Michael could manage. He had always been good at waiting. Still, the burden of this place was heavy. Guarding the garden was no simple charge. His hand pushed back through the long weight of his hair, a habit that had become more frequent as unease grew. If only his brothers took their own roles more seriously. Her voice drew him back, sharp enough to cut through the haze of thought. His gaze found her, steadied there. Beauty was a word too small for her. It made his chest tighten to look too long. Her comment drew a furrow to his brow, until meaning settled and something rare slipped past his restraint. A smile. Faint, but real.

He let the silence stretch, testing memory for some command that forbade him. He found none. “Michael.” The name was given simply, clipped and certain, a truth too solid to be questioned. His head tipped, formal in its precision. “I have time this day. Speak, if you will. Not only to the question I asked, but of anything you wish me to know. Watching cannot grant me what your words might.” Adam always wished to speak for her, to decide for her. Michael suspected that was more dream than truth, a veil Adam pulled over his own eyes.