I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW
All the world began with a yes.
GOD: The heart. The ocean. The silence. The mirror.
EVE: Yes.
When they woke they were in bed. The sheets were thin and yellow and there was a pattern on the pillowcases that reminded Eve of a flower but she didn’t know which one. She didn’t know what kind of flower it was but she knew it was a flower.
EVE: Do you know what kind of flower this is?
Eve sat up and shook the hair out of her eyes.
ADAM: Stop. We’re naked.
EVE: This flower. Do you know what kind of flower it is?
ADAM: I know what kind of flower it is. It’s a white flower.
EVE: I know it’s a white flower. What kind of white flower is it?
ADAM: I don’t know.
EVE: I want to know.
ADAM: I want to know too.
EVE: I want to know everything.
ADAM: Me too.
They stood up. Eve found her clothes, a slip and a pair of jeans and a top. Adam put on a shirt and a pair of black shorts he’d picked up from somewhere. They walked outside the house and found the city.
EVE: What’s so important about this place?
ADAM: I’m not sure. I think what’s important is that it exists.
They walked up and down the streets of the city, stopping now and again to look at the houses, the cars, the shops and the restaurants. They saw many things but the most important thing was that everything was in a state of constant motion.
ADAM: The world.
EVE: There’s no stopping.
ADAM: No stopping.
They walked down the street and saw two men fighting. One was dressed in black and the other was dressed in white. They were both armed with large knives and were using them to attack each other. Eve and Adam stood in the middle of the road and watched.
EVE: Why are they fighting?
ADAM: I don’t know. I don’t think they know.
EVE: So what do we do?
ADAM: We do nothing.
EVE: Nothing?
ADAM: Nothing.
The two men continued to attack each other and after several minutes the man in white received a terrible injury to his neck and he fell to the ground. The man in black stood over him and held the knife in the air and shouted and then he knelt down next to the man in white and closed his eyes. He put the knife on the ground and then he stood up and held the man in white in his arms and then he sat down on the ground and looked at the audience.
EVE: What’s happening?
The man in black held the man in white for a few minutes and then stood up and walked away. He walked away slowly and at the end of the street he stopped and turned around and looked at the audience and smiled.
ADAM: I want to follow him.
EVE: Why?
ADAM: He has something to teach me.
They walked down the street with the man in black and after a while they stopped and the man reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of fruit and he gave it to Eve.
EVE: What is this?
MAN: It’s a banana.
EVE: Why are you giving it to me?
MAN: Because it’s the best fruit I’ve ever tried. I’ve lived in many places and tried many different things but I’ve never tasted a fruit like this.
EVE: Why’s that?
MAN: Because it’s perfect.
EVE: What’s perfect?
MAN: An apple’s not perfect. A watermelon isn’t perfect. This banana is perfect.
EVE: Where did the banana come from?
MAN: I don’t know.
EVE: Who makes it?
MAN: I don’t know.
EVE: Who owns it?
MAN: I don’t know.
EVE: Then it’s not yours to give.
MAN: I understand that.
EVE: Then why did you give it to me?
MAN: I like you.
EVE: Why?
MAN: You have your own way of looking at things.
EVE: I know.
MAN: And you’re not afraid to be yourself.
EVE: I know.
MAN: It’s an interesting thing to experience.
EVE: It’s an interesting thing to be.
MAN: Don’t tell anyone I gave it to you.
EVE: I won’t.
The man walked away and Eve held the banana in her hand and looked at it and shook it and then Eve put it in her pocket.
They walked down the street and found a man standing outside the building. He was surprised to see them.
MAN: Welcome.
ADAM: This is a very big place.
EVE: It’s huge.
MAN: It’s the biggest place.
ADAM: Are you sure?
MAN: I’m very sure about it.
They walked into the building and saw a large number of people walking down a series of corridors.
ADAM: What are they doing?
MAN: Finding their way.
ADAM: What’s the point of it?
MAN: It’s a game without a clear goal.
ADAM: It doesn’t sound like much of a game.
MAN: That’s why they’re not having much fun.
They walked through the corridors and passed many people but the people never stopped and never looked at them and after a time Eve and Adam stopped looking at each other and began to look at the walls. They were covered with pictures and written words but there was nothing that made any sense.
MAN: What do you think is the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen?
ADAM: The sea.
EVE: It’s always changing.
MAN: But it’s not perfect.
ADAM: What do you mean?
MAN: It’s not perfect.
EVE: Is there a place that’s perfect?
MAN: Not that I’ve seen.
ADAM: What about our garden?
MAN: You can’t see the stars from there.
ADAM: The stars?
MAN: Oh, right. You don’t know.
ADAM: Know what?
MAN: Nothing.
They passed many more people until they saw a man sitting at a large desk surrounded by people who were standing and waiting for their turn to speak to him.
EVE: What’s going on here?
MAN: That’s a man who knows everything.
ADAM: Everything?
MAN: Everything.
ADAM: What’s his name?
MAN: He goes by many names.
ADAM: What are they?
MAN: Well let’s see: the bringer of light; the light of the world; the word; the one; the only; the beginning of all things; the devourer of worlds.
ADAM: I’ve heard of him.
The people were all sitting on the floor waiting their turn to speak with the man at the desk and when Adam and Eve arrived they joined the line. After a time it was Eve’s turn and she stood before the man.
MAN: How can I help you?
EVE: I’m looking for something that I think you control.
MAN: Control is not something I’m interested in.
EVE: Why not?
MAN: Look around. The world is so big and so beautiful. Why would I want to control anything?
EVE: What about controlling people?
MAN: They have to find their own way.
EVE: Their own way?
MAN: Everyone is looking for the same thing: a way that is best for them. So I suggest you search for what’s best for you.
EVE: How do I do that?
MAN: Find what you love.
EVE: What I love.
MAN: Find it and follow it.
EVE: I’ll try.
She walked away and Adam was next in line.
MAN: How can I help you?
ADAM: So you’re the light of the world?
MAN: I am.
ADAM: You don’t seem like much of a light.
MAN: I like to keep a low profile.
ADAM: I’d say so.
MAN: Why are you here?
ADAM: We’re looking for something.
MAN: What?
ADAM: I’m not sure anymore.
MAN: Everything you need is already inside you.
ADAM: Why don’t I feel that way?
MAN: It’s not about what you feel. It’s about what you are.
ADAM: What do you mean?
MAN: I’m tired of people asking me stupid questions. Why are we here? What is the purpose of life? Things like that.
ADAM: What is the purpose of life?
MAN: Your life is the purpose of life.
ADAM: What do you mean by that?
MAN: I’m done talking to you.
Adam looked at Eve and she shrugged her shoulders. They left the building and started walking back to the place where they were staying.
ADAM: That didn’t go well for me.
EVE: Me neither. He just gave me a line about finding what you love and pursuing it with passion.
ADAM: What the hell do you do with that?
EVE: I don’t know.
ADAM: I don’t know either.
The sun was going down and they had arrived at their residence.
ADAM: Let’s go in, have dinner and think this out.
EVE: I’d like that.
They went inside and prepared dinner. While they ate they talked about what they should do.
EVE: I’m still not sure it can work.
ADAM: What do you mean?
EVE: I mean, we’re not made for life alone.
ADAM: Why not?
EVE: I don’t know. I just hope it’s not too late.
ADAM: Why would it be too late?
EVE: I don’t know.
ADAM: What do you know?
EVE: I know that if we’re going to go on we need to have a sense of...
ADAM: A sense of what?
EVE: I don’t know. Community.
ADAM: Community? What kind of community?
EVE: I have no idea.
ADAM: Well then, let’s go back and see if the man at the desk can help us.
EVE: I’m not sure he will.
They ate the rest of their food, did the dishes and went to bed. They slept and dreamed of a light that was so bright they couldn’t see anything else and when they woke in the morning they started all over again.