Ephesus and the Earth

Long ago, when angels still roamed the universe, God decided to create Land; and creatures to inhabit it. As he constructed planets and galaxies, he assigned angels to watch over them, protect them, and further expand them. 1

The day God created Earth, he knew exactly who he wanted to give it to. “Ephesus,” he said, “Whose long, blue robes dip and curve around your body in currents much like the water that covers your planet, and whose blood is as white and pure as the most precious pearls, you may reign over Earth,” and he handed the small blue planet to the beautiful angel. 2

Ephesus brought Earth home and grew to love it and its inhabitants deeply. Every day he graced it with more and more beauty- waterfalls, spans of ocean so large you couldn’t see the end, majestic purple mountains, and flowers of all colors. He spent much of his time watching over the humans, and all was peaceful. They lived in their paradise, and every human was happy, each one with blood just as purely white as the smiling beauty which watched over them. 3

Ephesus nursed his planet to greatness, and was soon praised and held in great respect for his admirable success. At times, fellow angels would come from near and far only to get a glimpse of the beautiful world he had created and congratulate him for his good fortune.4

Unfortunately, wherever there is success, there is jealousy of said accomplishments. Smyrna, the angel who had been given the planet we call Venus, was angry at Ephesus for having such luck with his planet. Though her planet was nearly a duplicate of Ephesus’ Earth, it was clouded with thick, poisonous gasses and noxious fumes because of all the resentment she felt towards it, and it was incapable of supporting life. 5

The day could have been like any other day for Ephesus. He had hung up his robe of blue silk next to his beautiful planet, and was contentedly watching the humans on Earth mill about in their daily activities when Smyrna snuck up from behind him and slit his throat, smattering his frost colored blood all over the walls and his elegant blue robe. And then, with only a few spiteful words, she was gone. 6

As Ephesus lay dying, he felt he could not leave his planet alone, to fend for itself, vulnerable to anyone who may come across it. With the last of his strength, Ephesus pulled down his robe, spattered with ivory blood, and shrouded his planet with it; to forever protect his humans from vindictive angels like the one which had killed him.7

Ephesus died, and the moment his soul left his body, the humans he had so meticulously cared for became corrupted. They were consumed with greed and jealousy, and their blood turned as red as Smyrna’s eyes. Slowly but surely, they forgot about Ephesus and his undying love. 8

But, though we have forgotten him, reminders of his devotion still remain. Just look up- what do you see? An endless expanse of blue doused with white. At times, his blood pools together in a dense puddle and rains down onto the Earth he had committed himself to, and it soaks into the ground, bathing roads, nourishing the tallest, most eternal trees; and causing the most beautiful, colorful flowers, which he created, to bloom with all the luminous symmetry Ephesus had blessed them with- even in death, Ephesus’ ethereal presence still lingers.