On the twelfth day

the man said to the woman,

“Let me be the air you breathe,

the strength you need,

the center of the life you lead.

Be with me and I will awaken your dreams.

You shall not want for anything for I am strong.

You can rest in me.”

But, not wanting to lose herself,

the woman said, “No”

and the woman said, “Let me be.”

And later, the woman said,

“Let me be your air.

Let me be your strength.

Let me be the center of your life.

Be with me and I will fulfill all your dreams

and be your wife,

etc, etc, etc,…”

But, not wanting to be diminished,

the man said, “No”

and the man said, “Let me be.”

So,

the man and the woman

were lonely in the garden

while the rest of creation

walked with their other.

And,

after a while,

God came by for an inspection

and God saw the mess and said,

“Damn it!

Why can’t you two get it?

You need each other!

To be whole, two must be one,

as is my nature, both female and male,

back when I thought creation done.

Maybe,

if you do,

it might be finished.

And maybe, it might be good!”

And Eden held its breath.