Truth

"Pa, can I ask you something?" The young boy asked softly, gently tapping his father's shoulder. His father's thick eyebrows rose up ever so slightly.

"Eliot, if it is about your mother, then, no. I can't tell you." He replied tenderly, careful not to sound too unreasonable.

"But why?! I am already ten! I am not five anymore. I want to know the truth!" Eliot cried out indignantly.

His father a hazelnut colored eyes softened. The truth would make even grown ups tear up.

"Tell you what, Eliot. I'll answer all your questions when you grow up. How bout that?"

Eliot's eye lit up and a wide smile graced his lips.

"Really? How long till I grow up?" He asked excitedly, enthusiasm practically dancing in his eyes.

His father pondered for a moment before replying.

"Hmm," replied Eliot's father."About five years, I guess."

The boy indignantly cried out in shock.

"Five years?! That's way too long!"

"Take it or leave it," His father said, trying his best to sound threateningly.

"Ok! Ok! I get it." Eliot nearly shouted before quieting down,"But promise me you will."

"Sure," Eliot's father said, smiling victoriously,"I, Christopher Seth, promise to tell my son, Eliot Seth, the truth when he turns fifteen."

Eliot smiled smugly, raising his right hand's pinky.

"One last thing - let's pinky promise!"

"Oh? I thought you said you were a grown up? I'm pretty sure adults do not do pinky promises?" His father teased with a small smirk.

Eliot's face turned scarlet red in embarrassment.

"Just do it, please! I don't want you to break this promise..." Eliot shoved his pinky towards his father.

"Okay," His father replied, linking his own pinky with his son's. "I promise."

Before unlinking their pinkies, Eliot briefly flashed him a brilliant smile as though he had just won a million dollars.

And he couldn't help but return the smile.

For a while, they sat on the couch in comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's company.

Their living room was so quiet that the only thing they could hear were the soft, almost synchronized breathing of father and son.

It wasn't long before the silence was broken when his father heard Eliot trying to stifle a yawn.

"It's getting pretty late and you still have school tomorrow. Why don't you go back to your room and sleep?" Eliot's father whispered gently to Eliot, who was half asleep. He himself was exhausted as well.

Eliot nodded sluggishly with a dazed look before lazily getting up from the couch. Without saying a word, he turned towards his room and opened the door but before he went in, he turned to look at his father.

His jet black eyes met his father's hazelnut eyes.

"Goodnight Pa, I love you." Eliot whispered softly but audibly through the quietness of the living room.

Eliot's father could feel his lips curve upwards into a smile as he replied just as softly.

"I love you too, son."

The door closed with finality.