As we all know, there’s nothing like a flaming sword to separate you from something, and in this case, that something is a former innocence, whether of Eden or of childhood. The thing about loss-of-innocence stories, the reason they hit so hard, is that they’re so final. You can never go back. That’s why the boy’s eyes sting with blinding tears—it’s that flaming sword.
I never really thought of loss-of-innocence stories that way, but it’s definitely true. The experience marks a boundary you just crossed, but you’re unable to move backward, only able to keep your eyes and feet forward.
