1st Short

"You'd like some tea?"

"I would."

"Adam's not here."

"That's why I am. You're pregnant."

"Yes."

God allows this, for only God knows why. Eve is visited by Lilith, and they couldn't be more different. Eve was small, soft, gentle, kind and nervous, always anxious and covered in many layers of clothing. Lilith may as well have shown up completely nude. Lilith looked stronger, felt stronger, but heavy and dragged and damaged. You could argue she lost her beauty the moment she had walked away from paradise.

"Any preference?"

"No."

Eve tried her best, no one could deny her that, and yet she could not help but tremble near Lilith. A being made of dust instead of a rib, it was surreal. Lilith was like Adam, whilst Eve felt like a part of him. She set down the cups on their make-shift table. It was of bad quality. It wobbled and Eve was just counting down until it fully collapsed. Lilith must have noticed too, God, of course she did.

"To the health of your baby."

"Thank you."

They drank, in silence. It was maddening.

Eve coughed slightly, her throat immediately burning from the still foreign sensation.

"Yes," she repeated. "I am pregnant."

"Hm." What could Lilith possibly be thinking? "How fortunate. That must make Adam happy."

It sounded like an insult, they both knew it, neither pointed it out. Silence again.

"What did it taste like?"

Eve turned red, embarrassment a new- found emotion. "What?"

"The Fruit."

"Do not ask me again."

"I will guess that means 'good'?"

"Are you only here to add more sin to my disgrace?"

"Did you see Them fall? God's angels knew you'd be another failure. It simply is what had to happen, I would know."

"I was weak and betrayed our God. A 'failure' doesn't begin to describe what I am."

"Say what you will. What did it taste like?"

"I told you-"

"I ask regardless."

The two only women in the world looked at one another with mutual distaste.

"You have no spine."

"What?"

"I have one. I paid for it. And yet you're the chosen one. I honestly cannot see why you would be preferable."

"God works in mysterious ways."

"I agree."

Lilith took a sip. It was still too hot, but the woman drank like it was lukewarm. Eve saw and noticed this. Her thoughts immediately tried to figure out why?

"What do you think it would have tasted like?"

"The Apple?"

"Yes..."

"The Adversary made it more appealing than it was, and yet it was rewarding. I'd say."

"Yes?"

"Only you would know. And Adam, but I'll never speak to him again."

Eve lifted her cup. No, it was still too hot.

"Why do you hate Adam?"

"I don't want to lay below him. Ever."

"Why?"

"Because we are equal. He demanded me to be lower."

"Why would that be problem?"

Lilith finished her tea and put down the cup.

"Why indeed. Do you think he'd ever lay below you?"

"No."

"Does it bother you?"

Lilith tilted her head, staring at the other woman with an intensity Eve had never seen before in a mortal creature. Oh.

"I had forgotten. You are not mortal."

"No, I'm not."

Lilith and Eve - in no way are they similar.

"It tasted like a mouthful of chaos."

Eve trembled. She tried to take a sip so she could calm down but it still was too hot.

"Satan did not trick me. He beguiled me. He made me question; doubt and I lost everything I previously thought reality."

"So He did."

"Adam hated me for it. And now I've cursed womanhood."

Lilith diverted her eyes.

"Adam loves you. He and I were too alike. You compliment him, and he compliments you."

She looked at the bulge that was Eve's stomach.

"Thank you."

"Hm."

Lilith moved in her seat.

"Did you know I lost my child today?"

Eve lowered her head in horror, and a soft sigh as if she had expected the blow. She should have known not to expect mere kindness from the demoness.

"I am sorry for your loss."

Lilith nodded, rubbing her throat.

"I lost my child today," she said again. "One hundred of them."

She twirled her hair around her finger.

"And I birthed about seventy this morning. I still have at least thirty to go."

"It is a terrible punishment"

"One that will make me be remembered for eternity. And I won't sit idly."

"You'd torture mankind."

"I'll bring death, illness and pain to Adam's infants. You're in the middle of cross-fire, but you have brought that upon yourself."

"How awful, to innocent youth."

"Yes and may you pray."

Eve and Lilith stared at one another, but they saw nothing they could place.

"Do you often ponder about the future?"

"No, you."

Eve nodded. "Yes, often enough my head aches."

"Does that even serve a purpose?"

"Worrying? Quite so. I think. It will make me alert and focused."

"Hm. I don't worry. But, I do feel anger. It also serves a purpose. It will force me to never let me be wronged again."

"Anger will force you to live in doubt of everyone."

"Worry will exhaust you."

"Won't anger too?"

"I am proved to be able to handle it well."

And then, as by divinity decided, Lilith felt chased away, warded by God. Eve, so far from his favour, was still protected by Him. Because, oh Lord, He loves His children until the very end. And Lilith? She was no child of His, no longer.

Lilith stood, her womb feeling as if filled with acid; stepped away from the table, nearly toppled over due to its weak structure.

"You'll be a good mother."

"Goodbye Lilith."

"Goodbye Eve. May all your children at the very least carry just a sparkle of you."

"May you one day cease to be a monster."

And Lilith laughed.

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