Dearest Eve – A Short Story From Just Outside the Garden

Footprints on the Trail started out with our desire to share stories about our love for each other and to express the blessings and joys of our amazing marriage from within the context of our experiences and adventures walking the trails of the countryside surrounding our home here in North Alabama. As we moved forward in time, it became apparent that everything we wanted to say couldn’t be framed into a “trail” story.

We realized that the “story of our daily lives” encompasses every aspect of life both outward and inward. We began looking for “our” story in our comings and goings and in our feelings and hopes and dreams. And we began to try and view ourselves through the eyes of family and friends. What really WAS worth talking about? What more WAS there to say? Even more importantly, where WAS God’s will in this if at all?  If we were going to write honestly about how God was working in our lives, nothing could be excluded. Every single moment of life was is a miracle. Every day of our lives together as a couple is filled with blessings. Footprints On the Trail was not to be limited, fenced in. It wasn’t possible.

I’ve been thinking and praying a lot about what to write. Over the years both Carol and I have both expressed our hearts many times by writing journals and stories. And just recently I’ve began several blog pieces started but not yet finished.

So for today, after looking back through things I had already written I found a short story of mine called Dearest Eve. It came to me one day after reading the story of Adam and Eve in the bible. I began to think about them not just as the first man and woman but as a couple who had an intimate relationship, as real people who journeyed through life together. For a few moments I put myself into Adam’s shoes and tried to imagine what our day-to-day lives would be like and how I would feel about Eve. I decided to put my thoughts down in the form of a fictitious letter written from Adam to Eve.

Here is the story. It’s totally fictitious of course. We hope you enjoy it and find it meaningful in some way. More than anything, we hope that it honors God in some small way. If you are interested in reading our other blogs, you will find them here: http://www.footprintsonthetrail.com

Dearest Eve

Dearest Eve,

I’m so sorry you aren’t feeling well today. I sit here this evening to watch the stars make their rounds as we have done together so many times. But it just isn’t the same when we aren’t watching together as we once did back in the beautiful garden, and realizing your absence, I feel suddenly empty.

For a moment I even wondered if this life might be but a dream, so I put my hand to my chest and felt, as I have so many times before, for the empty space that once contained a rib. Yes, the space was still there, but so was the emptiness. That’s when I decided to write to you.

There are things that need to be said before either you or I walk through that door from which we can never return. The first one to go there should have been you or me, not Abel. If only we had talked to our children more often and they had talked to each other. Maybe Abel would still be alive.

I realize now how caught up we are in this hard and harsh world. It is hard for me to believe that either one of us could ever forget where we came from, even for just a moment. It was so glorious and beautiful and peaceful and yet seems more distant now.

How alive we were back then. I always felt great, as if I could do anything. And you were so lovely, and your eyes burned with the desire just to be and keep being forever.

Most of all, He was there! Remember how brightly He shined, and oh the fire in His eyes! His eyes were so piercing, yet so loving at the same time. I didn’t fear them back then like I do now. We were with Him then Eve, He walked right beside us. He held us in His arms, and there was nothing but joy and love. Remember?

He seems distant now, mostly invisible. And we are sick and dying. And so I am writing to you now.

I want you to know that you are, and always will be, flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone. I love you. How amazing that we were made for each other.

And I want you to know that I don’t blame you for what happened. Nor do I blame the serpent. It was me. I failed in His calling. He asked me to be a caretaker with you as my helpmate. But I didn’t understand. And I failed at taking care of the most important creature He trusted me with…you.

So I apologize. It was me that brought all this upon us. But as harsh and painful as it is, it hasn’t been all bad though. Look at what we have learned! Most importantly, we know the difference between life in and out of the garden. We know what it feels like to be close to Him and to be separated from Him.

And we know that is what life is all about…getting back to Him again. Though He seems mostly invisible, I now realize that He can still be seen and heard everywhere. He is in the beauty of the sunrise and His voice is in the wind. And for me, I see Him most in you. We are one as the result of His creation, and we share the knowledge of knowing Him. When I look at you I see Him.

I’m thankful for that. I spoke to Him recently and said I was sorry. And He looked into my eyes and said He loved me. He touched me too. And I felt whole again, just for a moment. I knew He meant what He said and that his love and forgiveness is genuine and everlasting.

Eve, thank you for staying with me and loving me. There is still much to do that can only be done by you and me, together. That’s the way He meant it to be. And doesn’t it feel wonderful to walk together in His will, sharing the journey that will lead us closer to Him and, someday, perhaps even back to that beautiful garden.

All of my love forever, Adam

“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18 NIV)

“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7 ESV)

© 2025 by Carol and Larry Smith