Lilith looked into the polished shield and smiled. Her hair glowed red as she carefully brushed it, stroke by stroke. I held her pins. Ready. They kept her thick red hair in place. She wore a white gown in the Greek fashion. It drapped around her.
"In my next life," Lilith said, "I am going to have long blonde hair, just like yours." She rolled a lock of my hair in her fingers. It hurt as she tugged on my hair. Her face glowed as she watched the hair sparkled under the sun's glow.
I stood quietly, trying to keep my face absolutely still. I wanted nothing from her. It was better if she didn't notice me.
But still, I shivered. And she smiled that knowing smile.
That night I dreamed that a witch pulled until the hair came off my head. The witch punched and pinched with sharp claws. Her laugher echoed in my head when I awoke. I scurried to my duties and tried not to think of my dream.
But, Lilith looked at me with those knowing eyes. Her reflection in the shield looked into mine. She smiled that knowing smile.
"In my next life," she said, "I want to have creamy white skin just like yours." She stroked my cheek. I could feel her nails dig into my skin. I stood absolutely still like a mouse cornered by a cat.
But still, I shivered. I kept my head down. I didn't want to see her smile.
That night I dreamed I was flayed alive. The knife slipped under my skin. I could feel it fall off my body. The pain was incredible. In my dream, I tried to scream. Nothing came out of my mouth. No one could hear me. I knew that if I could just wake up, I would be saved. But, I was tied into a nightmare. Finally, I woke when the sun's rays hit my eyes. But, the dream was still there, haunting my day.
My father was fascinated with Lilith. Sometimes he would hold her polished shield as she brushed her hair. Sometimes he would touch the ends. I had heard that the child she carried in her belly was his. I wondered what would happen to me if the child was a boy. My father didn't see me anymore. I was just another servant in his eyes. I wondered what she had promised him. I wondered if I was a gift to her insatiable hunger. Sometimes I would see Lilith's knowing look in his eyes.
Mother seemed oblivious to the flirtation between dad and Lilith. I would get no help there.
Why is Eve blamed for the fall of Adam? Did she put the apple to Adam's lips? Did he suckle?
No. It was Lilith. It was Adam.
I have hidden in the garden of dreams-guarded by a djinn with a sword. And, I wasn't safe, even there.