The Apple Tree

A single myth can teach generations who to trust, who to blame, and whose voice gets ignored. Today we challenge that inheritance with an original short story that rewrites the Adam and Eve narrative from the inside out, guided by the questions raised in Elizabeth Lesser’s Cassandra Speaks and a deep love of modern mythmaking.

We talk about the rare creative experience writers know well, when a piece arrives like a “download” after weeks or months of silence, then we share The Apple Tree, a lyrical retelling set in a food forest where the first tree Adam and Eve plant together becomes a symbol of partnership, fidelity, and collaborative power. When the serpent appears, it doesn’t just offer fruit, it tries to divide them with accusation and doubt. The heart of the story is the alternative we don’t hear often enough: Eve’s intuitive wisdom is real, Eve is believed, and Adam chooses protection over suspicion.

If you’re drawn to feminist retellings, biblical reinterpretation, archetypes, creative writing, and storytelling that heals old shame, this one offers a fresh lens. It’s a short listen with a long echo, ending on a simple truth: it’s all just a story, and the way we tell it changes us.

Subscribe to Voice Within, share this with a friend who loves myth and meaning, and leave a review with your take: which part of the old story are you ready to rewrite?

Transcript

Cassandra Speaks And Reframing Eve

The What If Questions

The Apple Tree Story Begins

The Serpent Targets Their Love

Rage, Doubt, And A Turning Point

A Tender Rewrite Of The Myth

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SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hello and welcome to Voice Within. This one is one of my own pieces. Now it doesn't happen often that you are just experiencing the writing coming through you, meaning that amazing, isn't it? As a writer, as a storyteller, you have weeks and weeks and weeks and months and months and months that you may not write. But this one here came to me after reading a book by Elizabeth Lesser called Cassandra Speaks. And she was speaking about how Adam and Eve's story creates for as long as we can remember from when that story derived from the beginning of time, right? In a biblical sense, that Eve's personal growth towards offering in awareness the apple to Adam, which was perceived as her being the temptress, but at the same time a growth from her to go beyond the Garden of Eden. What is more? What is there more? And being ostracized, well, both of them really, um, Adam and Eve, but Eve taking the fall of this offering of this apple, meaning that she was the one to seduce Adam. And therefore, childbirth was unbearable from that point. Adam and Eve had to uh suffer the human condition. Now, this storytelling book by called Cassandra Speaks also looks at how the narrative can be changed from a human way, from a woman for a woman's perspective. And this is just a download that happened. So I recreated the Adam and Eve story, and it's called the Apple Tree. Now I created this story because it just was so alive in me. What if the apple was offered in a way that came from a good intention? And what if Eve was actually believed? And what if Adam back, you know, had Eve's back? So just a few things to ponder. So I'm gonna go straight into the story, uh, and you can let me know in the reviews uh what you think of this perspective. So this is called the apple tree. My darling, I've been told not to seek my wisdom, my intuitive power of foresight and sensory knowledge. Eve gently comes up to Adam and looks at him in his eyes. Who would claim such a thing, my divine counterpart? Adam exclaims. The serpent and his master they are interchangeable, really. In form, they're shape shifters. Every time they visit town, you don't know whether it's the serpent or the master. They came to me one of those days, in many forms, to derail me off this absolute knowing. I know, I've seen it, your knowing, what a gift to be witnessed, honoring. Adam gazes up to the sky and thinks of all the moments that her that Eve's intuitive power actually gave him strength. Adam and Eve took an afternoon stroll in their food forest, past the vegetable patch, past the wild berries, the garden of Eden. They come upon a their favourite tree, the first tree they ever planted from seed. The apple tree. Eve saw a shadow moving from the corner of her eye, decided to dismiss this, as her place is with her beloved in this moment. Adam exclaims Look as he points to the branch of the apple tree. The serpent wraps its scaly green grey body around an apple branch, causing it to slightly overhang right in front of the eyes of Adam and Eve. The serpent Adam, the serpent. Eve grabs the side of Adam's body, using his receptive warmth as protection. Can I offer you a treat? It's ever so delicious, says the serpent, wrapping tight a steel around a juicy red apple. Begone. This tree is special to us. You can never be allowed to eat from our harvest, as this tree is planted from our love. Adam pups up his chest further. Oh really? Eve allowed me to visit and offered one of these juicy delights herself. Eve bewildered by such absurdity. Grass tighter to Adam. Adam turns to her sharply. Eve, what is this reptile stating? Stating untruths, Adam. The snake smiles slyly. How else would I know of this tree? My master knows of this tree and of this garden. Adam This snake has been sent to destroy our crops, divide us, and has come for the first tree we've ever planted together. Eve sternly looks straight into the serpent's eyes, fearless. Adam looks at Eve, feeling betrayed, yet confused, and rages himself with this new knowledge. He rages towards the tree, peeling off branches, bellowing like an animal in a cage. The snake pleased. Eve cold and frightened. Adam turns to Eve with a stare only she knows. Adam's hand reaches out, strikes the snake's neck, and pulls the snake off, taking the branch with him. Face to face with the uninvited visitor. You tell your master this, you slithering centipede. His dominance over attempting to overhaul and destroy what is pure will now come to an end. Our love and fidelity, our quality and our collaborative powers, my ability in all with vision with these hands, my divine counterparts, Eve, ability to see right through these dark veils, all knowingly, will finally liberate you, your master, and the hearts of all. If for one second you thought you could destroy pure love and creation of divine union above and beyond, here is a clear sign it ain't possible no more. So please take an apple and one for your master. But every time you even so think of hurting us again, dividing us, conquering, you will be growing a hundred legs on your scaly excuse of a body, and our love will grow stronger for every weapon purged. And for your master? He will fade into compost. Like all of us one day, and we will use it for this apple tree. The snake struggles to breathe, slithering away with two apples shoved down his throat under the canopy of the apple tree. Eve buries herself into Adam arms grasping his waist. Deeper, tighter, she whispers, You saved and rewrote story. You've leaved me my inner wisdom. Adam replies, You are the courageous the seer, willing to see what that most cannot. I see you, you are growing wiser, my heart. She faces him, and tears well in her eyes with joy. Not a word uttered. Adam thinks to himself his story, her story. It's all just a story, but both are worthy to be told truthfully. Voice within a collection of short stories, letters and poems narrated to you. Take your ears and imagination to places. A number of authors aspire to take their tales. For a subscription of no more than two copies a month, you can enjoy narrations, talks around the art of storytelling, writing, publishing, all that arty juicy stuff. So subscribe now to support all our authors and of course this program to receive more stories for your enjoyment. And if you are someone interested in receiving a passive income for your stories, get in touch today and find out more on www.voice-within.co. 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