“Why is this so boring?” My little charge cried.

 

“It’s not boring,” Seth told him. 

 

“Yes, it is!” Enosh’s foot stomped on the ground almost involuntarily.

 

“You think it’s boring to talk to the Creator of the universe?” Seth asked. “A being who made every single thing you come in contact with? Someone who does things so unbelievably impossible that any normal human being would be in awe if they watched it happen in front of their eyes?”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Well, it’s not boring for me, and we’re doing it. Now, let’s go. Everyone is waiting for us.” Seth grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the place that the family had set up for daily worship. 

 

However, Enosh and his seven-year-old brain had a different plan. He kicked his father in the shin and yanked his arm away. While Seth was hopping on one leg, Enosh ran in the opposite direction as fast as he could. 

 

I took off after the little boy. I stayed just far enough behind him that I wouldn’t be too tempted to interfere at the smallest problem, but close enough that I could protect him if necessary. 

 

Enosh had spent many days exploring the areas surrounding his happy, little village, dreaming of a day when he could venture away on his own and see what this amazing world that God given them had to offer. He could easily hide for days from his father. I knew that Seth would only find Enosh if he wanted to be found.

 

No matter how far we went, I could still hear Seth calling for his youngest son as if I were still right next to him. My hearing was thankfully not as limited as the humans. It was a shame we would miss out on worship today. I always loved listening to the humans sing.

 

As Enosh finally began to slow down, we were passing through a wooded area. I noticed a shadow move between the trees to our left. I stared at the place where the shadow had passed. It was unusual that I wouldn’t know what I was looking at. If it were an animal, I would have recognized it immediately.

 

A shadow dashed to our right. This time Enosh saw it, too. He stopped and waited for it to happen again. “Is someone there?” He asked the trees. Silence was his answer. Even the birds had stopped chirping.

 

Enosh began to walk again. He grabbed a large stick as he went and pretended it was a third leg. He began to giggle at the idea. Another giggle echoed him. “I heard that!” Enosh announced, pointing his stick at nothing in particular. Still more silence was the response.

 

“Who’s there?” Enosh tried again. When no one answered, he said, “You don’t scare me. I’m not going back.” 

 

Leaves rustled nearby. We both turned at the sound, but again there was nothing. Enosh decided it would be better to start running again. As he dashed through the woods, the shadows seemed to follow at every turn. Normally, nothing could hide from me like this, and yet the mystery continued. 

 

Unearthly sounds seemed to permeate all around us. Voices talking, giggling, shouting. Enosh came to a stop, huffing and puffing. The young boy covered his ears. He turned around, looking in all directions. “Stop it!” He yelled. 

 

“Stop what?”

 

Enosh turned and saw a tall, pale man staring at him. He pulled his hands from his ears slowly. The sounds had stopped. There were no more moving shadows. How did this man sneak up on us without me noticing?

 

“Who are you?” Enosh asked. 

 

“My name is Gadrael,” the man said with a low bow. “I was unaware that anyone would be out here. You seem like an intelligent young man. I am a traveler of the Nephilim.”

 

“What’s a naflim?” Enosh responded.

 

Gadrael smiled, showing two rows of perfect white teeth. “My people search the world looking for new friends. Can I be your friend?”

 

“No,” I whispered to Enosh. “We should go back home.” When I said this, I thought I saw Gadrael glance in my direction, but he couldn’t have heard me.

 

“You look funny,” Enosh told the Nephilim. “Did you come from Cain’s tribe? My dad told me about him and why he left.”

 

“No.” Gadrael responded with a smile. “We Nephilim are from a different tribe. Though, I have met Cain.”

 

“He’s a jerk,” Enosh said. 

 

Gadrael chuckled. “I’m sure he’s much different from when your tribes split up. It’s been over a hundred years.”

 

Enosh shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I’m leaving.” He began to walk past Gadrael, but the Nephilim stepped in his way. 

 

“Where are you going by yourself?”

 

Enosh looked up into the pale blue eyes. “That’s the point. I want to be by myself.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because I don’t like people,” Enosh exclaimed. “People do stupid, pointless things. And then, they want to make everyone else do those things with them.”

 

“That sounds terrible,” Gadrael said. “Nephilim don’t do that. We let everyone make their own decisions.”

 

Enosh huffed. “That must be nice.”

 

“Would you like to come with me?” Gadrael offered. “I wouldn’t want you to be attacked by a wild beast out here by yourself. Perhaps, you would be happier among my people.”

 

“I’m not scared,” Enosh announced.

 

Gadrael gave a wide, toothy smile. “Of course not,” he said. “You are clearly very brave. Do you intend to fight a tiger with your bare hands? Or maybe a lion or a bear?”

 

“It’s not your business,” Enosh told him throwing his shoulders back and chest up defiantly. “I’ll handle whatever comes my way.”

 

Gadrael laughed. “Good for you. It would seem that you have a guardian angel with you.” Again, he seemed to glance at me. Could this Nephilim see me?

 

“I don’t know,” Enosh responded. “I just know I don’t need to be afraid. My father taught me that God always watches over us.”

 

“Does He?” Gadrael seemed to ponder the thought as if it were foreign to him. “Have you ever seen this God?”

 

“Well… no,” Enosh mumbled.

 

“Then, how do you know He watches you?”

 

“Grandfather Adam tells us stories about how he met God when He created the world and how He speaks to us.”

 

“So, you have spoken to this invisible God?” Gadrael asked.

 

“No.” Enosh looked down at the ground and moved a rock around with his foot.

 

“I see.” Gadrael moved forward and put a long-fingered hand on Enosh’s shoulder. “How would you like to learn how to watch over yourself? No god necessary.”

 

“Is that really possible?” Enosh asked. “I’ve always been taught that all people need God.”

 

Gadrael nodded. “On the right occasion, we have sacrificed to a few gods in order to make a request. However, the Nephilim spend most of our days making our own decisions and living life the way we want. It can be peaceful or adventurous, whatever your heart desires.” He held his right hand out as an offering of friendship to Enosh.

 

I watched the boy’s nose wrinkle in indecision. “No,” I whispered. Once again, the Nephilim’s eyes darted in my direction. It couldn’t be a coincidence. I knew who he was now. 

 

“I could do whatever I want?” Enosh asked timidly. 

 

“Of course,” Gadrael responded.

 

“No,” I whispered again, but louder this time.

 

“But what if I want to leave?” Enosh looked up at the Nephilim’s pale face.

 

“You can go anytime you wish,” Gadrael said.

 

“Stop!” I announced, causing both of them to stare at me. In a flash, I had become fully visible in a corporeal form and had taken a position between Nephilim and human. “You will not take the boy.”

 

“Finally decided to show yourself?” Gadrael said with a wry smile.

 

“This boy is protected,” I said, ignoring his question. “Go back to the Fallen and do not return to this place.”

 

“Shouldn’t it be Enosh’s decision where he goes?” The Nephilim peered around me at the young human gawking at the two of us. “Does he not have free will?”

 

“You know that he does.” I grimaced at his use of legalities.

 

“Then obviously you should let him.” Gadrael’s smile did not fade for an instant.

 

In a panic, I knelt in front of my charge. “Enosh, listen to me. You can’t go with this man. He will take you down a path that you won’t like. He will teach you things that will take away your future “

 

“Who are you?” Enosh asked.

 

“I am the one God sent to protect you,” I told him. “I have been with you since your birth into this world. Even though you have never been able to see me, I have watched over you at all times. You have been my one and only focus for these past seven years. But, if you go with the Nephilim, I will not be able to go with you. You will be completely alone in a way that you have never felt before.”

 

“He’s trying to control you, Enosh.” Gadrael proclaimed. “Just like everyone else, he wants you to live his way. If you go with me, you can be your own man.”

 

“That’s a lie,” I said turning back to Gadrael. “What you want him for isn’t freedom to be a man. You want to corrupt him into your own sick kind of slavery.”

 

“Where were you?” The question came softly from the boy’s lips. We both stared at Enosh waiting for clarification. “You said you were my protector,” he said to me raising his voice. “So why didn’t you protect me from the bad stuff? Why didn’t you protect me when my brothers hit me or when I fell off the donkey while I was learning to ride?”

 

“That’s not why I’m here,” I tried to explain. 

 

“You said you were my protector.” He yelled. “Why didn’t you protect me?”

 

Gadrael snickered. “Those are very good points.”

 

“The things you think I should have protected you from are a part of life.” I explained. “Those experiences made you stronger and helped you learn. If I would have interfered, you wouldn’t know how to live your life. You wouldn’t grow up to be the man and leader that you’re meant to be. I’m here to protect you from the things that would prevent you from achieving your destiny. Do you understand?” 

 

“No.” Enosh exclaimed. “I don’t want to be what you or anyone else wants me to be.” He walked around me to where the Nephilim stood. “I’m going with him.”

 

“Good choice, lad,” Gadrael said. “We will have the time of your life. Every day will be a new adventure.”

 

“Wait,” I said. They both looked at me. “I won’t stop you from making your own decision, but I can hear someone that is searching for you. He will be here in a moment. You should say goodbye.”

 

“I don’t want to…” Enosh started before a tall, muscular man came through the trees. “Grandfather?”

 

Adam observed the scene in front of him. “Enosh,” he asked, “what’s going on?”

 

Then, he turned to me. “I haven’t seen one of your kind away from the Garden in a long time. What are you doing with my grandson?”

 

“The fallen one wants to take him away,” I said. 

 

“Is this true?” Adam asked the boy.

 

Enosh looked at the ground. “Yes.” 

 

“But you wouldn’t go with him, right?”

 

“I was thinking I might,” Enosh answered, “for a little while.”

 

Adam came close to him and knelt to look in his eyes. “There would be no ‘little while.’” He said softly. “If you leave with this man, they would not let you come back. Your mom and dad would miss you. I would miss you as well.”

 

“My dad hates me,” the boy whimpered.

 

“Why would you think such a thing?” 

 

“He yelled at me.”

 

Adam smiled. “Your dad loves you. Parents yell sometimes because they don’t always know how to react to what their children are doing. It’s not always the right reaction, but he’s doing his best to be the father you need.”

 

“Okay.” Enosh sniffled.

 

“How about you and me go find him? He’s searching everywhere for you.”

 

“Okay,” Enosh said again before taking his grandfather’s hand. They both began to walk back toward their home.

 

“Wait,” Gadrael said, but neither of them looked back. The man and young boy eventually disappeared between the trees. “What just happened?”

 

I smiled at the being that had once been my equal and was now my enemy. “You and I could give reason after reason for him to listen to us,” I told him. “But in the end, love conquers all.”