The Forest of Eden

“And from his rib a woman was born. In that moment Adam – the father of all – had found his true companion, and it is this moment that declares something grand for the rest of humanity.” Father stood tall amidst the kneeling crowd - a few dozen figures with bowed heads all listening intently to the honey filled words of Father. “Marriage, a most wonderful covenant!” His voice became low once more so that the multitude of ears needed to lean in further, to soak in the joyous proclamation. 

“The union between a man and his wife is one that shan't be broken, not ever.”
An elbow dug into Eden’s side. He quickly looked to his side where his mother’s disappointed gaze fell on him. “Sorry,” he whispered out. Cotton covered knees slid across the old wood of the pew – why the church refused to invest in some sort of comfortable arrangement would always be lost on him.

His eyes drifted away from Father once more, finding a much more intriguing view just across the aisle where a head of brown locks rose, duly facing Father. Eden knew those strands perfectly, better than his own. The hue, curl pattern, where they fell against the nape of the neck. He could trace his finger down, sliding against a sharp jaw: Eden was a cartographer, and Michael’s face was the most beautiful map in all of existence.

“It’s only a dozen meters or so away!” 

“You’re a liar, it’s ages away!” 

Eden laughed candidly, the sound erupting from his throat. Michael chased after him through the woods, white trees passing in a blur.

This was their place, away from the rest of the village. Eden didn’t need to worry about stuffy waistcoats or trousers that pinched: half of the time when he was running with Michael he didn’t even care for his shoes – they just held him back after all. 

Eden could hear the other boy huffing behind him, the only thing that got him to stop his running trance was the absence of footfalls behind him. Michael slumped against a tree; his chest rose and fell with every breath he took. “That’s it– no– no more running.”

Eden leaned against the tree as well, a devilish smirk across his lips. “You need to work on your stamina.”

In the woods, away from the rest of the world, Eden could pretend that Michael wasn’t the Father’s nephew, that whatever boyhood craze they had wasn’t the most dastardly thing to ever happen. This was their wood – the people around them became mere figments of the imagination. Real life existed between the two of them, in the caresses that they shared and the whispers that danced between their lips.

Eden plopped on the ground; the moss was soft beneath his skin, much gentler than the brutal wood of the old pew. As both boys caught their breath, they leaned against each other. Sunbeams filtered through the emerald canopy as though the sun was playing a game of hide and seek with them.

Michael’s hand moved hesitantly towards his – it always did: Eden was the one to initiate contact between them, the one that brought up the plans, the one that had found their spot, sometimes he wished that Michael would put in the same amount of energy. 

Eden grasped onto the appendage, refusing to let it go. He wanted Michael to commit to the act, no matter how sinful it may be.

“It’s just us.”

“I know.” Michael stared intently at their intertwined hands.

Eden’s heart raced, “There’s nothing to worry about.”

“I know.” He didn’t sound convinced – he never did. It was a fact of life. Michael would always be scared of what they had, of being caught, but Eden wanted more. 

He had long grown accustomed to the act of sin, knowing that he himself had broken his fair share of Godly rules in his life. Lust, gluttony, envy, pride. According to Father, pride was the worst – the most demonic of the seven and the originator of all. In Eden’s own opinion, if God didn’t want anyone to disobey Him, He should have allowed room for discussion. 

Michael rested his head on Eden’s shoulder, not saying a world. The other didn’t talk as much as he did, and certainly not about the things that mattered. Eden thought if it were possible, Michael would never say another word again, that way he could guarantee with all certainty that he would never let anything slip about the devilish acts between the two of them. 

His mum’s hand was holding his, as was his dad’s; Eden was always between the two, ever since he was born his seat had been between the two adults. “Bless, Oh Lord, these gifts that we have received, which you, my God, have given us. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.” 

“Amen.” His mum repeated.

“Amen.” Eden’s voice was far quieter; he didn’t see why they had to do this before every meal. They began to dig in, the three of them: soda bread, cabbage, potatoes, and pork. As they were eating they were fairly silent, not saying much to one another, instead focusing on eating their meals.  

That was until his mum broke in, “Eden?”

He nearly dropped his food. “Yes?” 

There was a smile on the woman’s face, but it made his stomach twist like a thicket. “Well, you’re almost of age now, and your father and I were talking.” Eden’s hands began to shake. “We believe it’s time that you begin looking for suitors, no need to pick one out now, but just keep your eyes open. There are plenty of beautiful girls in the village.”
Eden fought back a laugh.

“Eden.” His dad’s voice was as cold as the Arctic seas. “This is no laughing matter, it’s your duty to find a suitable wife.”

“I just don’t think right now is the time for that.” He broke in, trying to stir the conversation away from the subject of marriage. Eden knew that he was never going to get married as the one he truly wanted wasn’t an option. It was taboo in nearly every place in the world.

His dad’s gaze hardened, “You will begin looking, Eden.”

“But-”

“You will find a wife. Forget anything else in the world, God wants you to find a nice lady, settle down, and have children, and that is what you will do.”
Eden slumped in his seat; he didn’t want any of that. Sure kids were great, but he always knew that he wouldn’t have any of his own. He didn’t care what God or Father said, Eden wanted one person in the entire world and that was Michael. He didn’t care how sinful it was. 

Days passed, the moon waxed until it was finally full. 

There was a devious smile on Eden’s face as he rushed out of his window and to Michael’s house. The streets were clear, they normally were at night, and the rays of the moon illuminated the town.

He knew where Michael’s window was, he had knocked on it many times before, and that night was just like any other. “Michael,” he whispered through the gap. “Michael?” He repeated, not knowing if the other had remembered their rendezvous – though how could he forget. These nights were just as, if not more, special than their day time meetings: this was paradise.

Eden was nearly about to start knocking against the glass when Michael made an appearance. “Took you long enough.”

“Some of us were sleeping.”

“Can’t have that can we.” He lifted the window wider with the assistance of the boy, allowing Michael to climb out and land on the grass below. Thank God there was only one floor. 

Eden’s hands were resting on Michael’s hips, the two of them so close that there was only a hair's width between them. 

Michael’s eyes flitted across their surroundings, trying his hardest to see if anyone was surveilling. “We should go.” 

Eden didn’t argue.

They tramped through their woods again, the air colder than it was before. Autumn would be reeling its head soon and the memories of pleasant summer nights would be long forgotten. The white trees glistened, the sounds of bats and owls and bugs echoed throughout the lands. When they peered around tree stumps and branches, glowworms could be found, lighting up the air in all sorts of mysterious ways. 

Their hands slipped together, Michael’s more relaxed now that there was nobody about: they returned to their spot from the previous adventure. 

“My parents want me to marry.” Michael blurted. 

Eden – despite knowing his own parents wanted the same fate for him – remained silent about the subject. “And will you?” The air grew stiff between them, Michael’s eyes refusing to meet his own. Eden sat back, his shoulders slumping. “Well, will you or will you not?”

“Eden it’s complicated-”

“What we have is complicated. Trying to live in this town when everyone would hate us if they found out is complicated. Saying no isn't complicated.” Anger rose in his chest – the kind that he despite, the sort that he swore he would never inflict on Michael because the other was his pride and joy, the kind of person that deserved nothing less of perfection.

“Eden.” Michael’s voice grew soft, a caring sound that made the fury fall flat and retreat back into his body. “I do want this, more than you could ever imagine. It’s just… Well, there are some things that I have to do, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you any less.” He brought his arms up, wrapping them tightly around Eden’s torso. The boy didn’t know what to think: Michael had never acted like this before, so open, so outward. 

He relaxed into the other’s touch, the feeling of his soft skin, the thin fabric of his shirt. Eden completely melted against Michael, two bodies becoming so inseparable that nobody would ever know that they were once two. They were one body, one soul that intertwined and could never be parted.

This was their marriage.

Eden was forcefully awakened by the sound of pounding at the front door. He rubbed his eyes as he arose from his bed, wishing that his mum or dad would get it, but they never did. Begrudgingly, he padded over to the door, yawning as he opened it. “What’s the matter?”

“Oi, if it isn’t the town monster.” 

That woke him up quickly. “I’m sorry?”

Before he could ask further questions a hand – several actually – gripped his arms, pulling him out of the house and onto the street. The morning sun disoriented him, ripping his sight away, but his hearing was not lost. Dozens of voices were heard, some shouting the word ‘monster’ over and over again that it hardly sounded like a word anymore. There were other shouts as well, more vile things that Eden didn’t know were possible to come up with. 

In the midst of confusion he was pulled through the crowd and down the street, all the while hearing the wretched words that the other townspeople were calling him. Over the course of a night he had become an abomination, a foul sinner, and a crime against humanity as a whole. 

Finally, at the center of town, he was pushed to the ground, the gravel from the path digging into his palms and shins. Eden struggled to look up, to face whoever had sentenced him to such torment.

It was Father.

“Eden Brennan. It has come to the attention of the town that you have committed an act of great sin against humanity and attempted to turn others to your path of destruction as well. Is this true?”

Eden looked up in confusion. The sight that greeted him was nothing short of nauseating: Michael was standing next to father, his head held low. Eden looked frantically between the two, not knowing what to think. “What are you talking about?” His heart began to race, his throat tightening.

Father frowned, “It is not wise to ignore the acts that you have committed, Eden, not when I have several witnesses to the event.”

He tried to stand, but a heavy hand pushed him back to his kneeling position. With desperate eyes he stared at Michael, silently begging that the other would speak up, say that it was all a lie, but he knew that that would not happen. Michael was standing at Father’s right hand side.

“No, no, no!” 

“Eden, if you do not admit that you have sinned then we will have to take drastic measures.” 

“Michael, tell them it’s a lie! Tell them I haven’t done anything wrong!” He hadn’t, Eden knew that. He didn’t care what a thousand year old book said, he followed the voice in his heart that knew loving Michael wasn’t anything to be ashamed of, that it was something wonderful, something that ought to be celebrated.

Michael appeared ready to break; his lips were trembling and his eyes were red. “I must not tell lies, Eden.”

His shoulders fell, any sense of rebellion had been stripped from his body. Eden stood an empty shell of former glory. “Michael…”

“So it is said.” Father spoke once more, “For the severe sin against God, our Father, Eden Brennan, you will be removed from this town.”

Eden didn’t find it in himself to care about what the man was saying. He didn’t care as he was lifted to his feet, or when he was brought to the edge of town, none of that mattered anymore. Eden didn’t care that he was called a monster as he sluggishly walked from the border, or when the other boys from the town threw stones at him.

Eden was banished from the one place he had ever known, the place he had called home, but most of all he was banished from his other half, from his true companion. 

They would walk the forest together no longer.