Cast from Eden

It was 3:30 a.m. when I was awakened by the flash of red and blue lights outside my apartment window. I rolled out from my bed and rubbed the crust from my eyes.

"No sin goes unpunished." I muttered to myself.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

It wasn't as though I didn't have any idea why the police were here at this hour. In fact, I would have been surprised if they were here for any other reason. I had committed a cold blooded murder just several hours ago after all.

I quickly threw on a pair of light gray sweatpants and a white T-shirt as I slowly drug my feet to the door.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

"This is the police. Open up, we need to talk with you."

I didn't necessarily have any guilt or remorse for what I had done, but I did wonder how things managed to get to this point... My life hasn't been bad by any means these past few years, actually it's been quite the opposite. Ever since I met the girl of my dreams a few years back, it's been nothing short of a paradise. I finished college at the top of my class, had a job that I enjoyed, and my relationship with my girlfriend couldn’t be better. I was even planning on proposing soon.

There really was no reason a guy like me should have had to commit such a horrendous act, such as stabbing an innocent man, who's never so much as harmed a fly, in the back, but unfortunately I wasn't able to resist the taste of the forbidden fruit known as greed...

My job paid decently, but nowhere near enough to allow me to grant each and every one of my girlfriend's wishes. High-end designer clothing, nightly dinners at five star restaurants, and even trips around the world were just outside of our grasp. I was content yet discontent at the same time. In the back of my mind there was always the fear that a girl like her could just find someone else who could actually make her dreams come true.

*Click*

I undid the door's deadbolt and opened it up. There I was greeted by two officers shining a flashlight in my face though the darkness of the early morning.

"Can I help you, officers?"

I already knew the answer to that question. Just as the first man, Adam, gave into temptation by taking a bite of forbidden fruit that was presented to him by Eve, I too was tempted to commit a great sin by the one I loved.

The officers spoke without the slightest bit of sympathy in their voices.

"Sir, we have a warrant for your arrest. You have the right to remain silent."

"Hahaha."

"What's so funny." One of the officers said.

I couldn't help but laugh at how silly this all was. It all started a week ago, while I was hanging out with my girlfriend. She jokingly made a comment about being in her rich father's will. It was nothing more than some light-hearted dark humor, but for some reason it planted a seed in my brain. From that day forward, every time I saw her smiling face, I couldn't help but think about how with a single action, I could grant her every desire.

"Oh, it's nothing." I responded.

"Keep in mind everything you say and do can be held against you in a court of law, kid."

Eventually the temptation had become too much and I decided to pay my girlfriend's father a visit yesterday afternoon... As his daughter's beloved boyfriend, the old man welcomed me with open arms and a smile on his face. He probably was anticipating that I had unexpectedly arrived to ask for his blessing to marry his daughter... As we sat in his kitchen chatting, he turned his back to grab me a drink from his fridge. At that moment I couldn’t help but notice his cutlery set sitting out in front of me. A dark green serpent was wrapped around the knife block, its head hovering over the largest knife in the set. It stared directly into my eyes as it repeatedly stuck its tongue in and out. At first I hesitated, but the serpent suddenly reappeared wrapped around my wrist this time. It pulled my hand over to the knife, where I proceeded to pick it up in my hand and thrust it into my girlfriend’s father’s back. I felt nothing, as I pulled it out and did it again and again and again... and again. The old man didn't so much as put up a fight. In fact, it seemed like he didn't even blame me for what I was doing.

*Clink* *Clink*

The officers cuffed my hands behind my back. I didn't even try to resist, there was no hiding now from the sin I had committed. As they began escorting me away, I looked back at my apartment, knowing that I’d probably never go back to the life I knew before. Just as God cast Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden for their sins, I too was being cast from my Eden. Adam had Eve, so I would make sure SHE was cast out along with me.