A snake hid from the woman, watching her from his spot in the bushes as she admired the lush, colorful trees and their fruit.

As he watched her, lust, hatred, fury, envy, and a bloodthirsty longing for power drove him to slide on his stomach, around the garden, brushing the woman’s ankles, up the turn of The Tree, where he hung, draping himself like a king from the thick branches.

Leaning down, just beside the woman’s ear, he hissed lies and deceit into her mind.

You’ll never be enough.

He doesn’t truly love you.

You are weak. You’ll never have power.

He offered her a choice, a choice that wasn’t his to offer. But she slowly reached up, thoughts circling her mind like a snake slithering in a maze, and plucked a round fruit from The Tree.

Perfect.

She lifted the bright red fruit to her mouth and took a deep bit into the juicy fruit. All at once, sweetness flooded her mouth. She wanted more, she craved more. Calling to the man she’d been made for, she handed him the fruit. He, as well, took a bite and his mouth was overwhelmed by the sweet and tangy taste of the fresh fruit.

Then, all of a sudden, the flavors in their mouth turned sour, their stomach’s churned, and their eyes were opened. Impure, dirty thoughts flooded their minds as they saw their bodies—shameful, ugly.

And they believed all that the snake had told them.

As the snake slid down the trunk, a leer on his narrow green face, he heard a voice behind him, a gentle, booming whisper.

Where are you?

Following this was a statement of warning. Something about a heel, crushing the snake’s head. But that, that was surely impossible.

Little did the snake know…
Nothing is impossible with God.