➰

The sound of sizzling resonated through the Kitchen, as Emanuel used a stainless steel spatula, to turn thick strips of Turkey Bacon in a broad skillet. Grease popped and burned his right hand, but it wasn't anything he wasn't accustomed to.

It felt like a year since he'd had a hearty breakfast, and he anticipated the moment he would taste the savory flavor of the bacon on his tongue. Yet, Emanuel knew he couldn't rush the perfection of it, nor could he turn the stove to a higher level of heat.

"Dad! I can't find my Backpack, have you seen it?" Elias small voice called from the Living Room as the sound of his small feet, approached the moderately sized Suburban Kitchen.

Done in a vintage theme and dusky colors, the Kitchen was a square opening, with resin countertops and a sink with metal fixtures. Cherry wood cupboards expanded to all three corners of the Kitchen, with a stainless steel Stovetop and matching Refrigerator. Adding to the overall contrast of the brightness, from the window above the sink. The floor was poured and the walls were painted with a wallpapered dado, reflecting the light provided by the early morning Sun.

The Kitchen stretched into the Living Room, parted off by an Island Countertop, attached to the left wall of the Rectangular opening. A large, square Living Room beyond with matching wooden and leather furniture, with cushioned seating. A large Flat screen TV was attached to the right wall, which was painted with a wallpapered dado--much different from the Kitchen's.

"Have I seen your Backpack? Am I the one going to School, young man?" Emanuel asked as he spun around, Elias coming into his line of sight.

"But, Daaaaad," Elias began to whine, and Emanuel sighed gruffly with a roll of his eyes and smiled down at him.

"Ok, Monkey, here's the deal. You're going to go look for your Bag, while I make these scrambled eggs and if you haven't found it by then, I'll let you eat while I search for it myself, ok?" Emanuel assured Elias who frowned with a glare, but nodded in agreement to the terms.

"Ok!"

Elias ran off into the Living Room, disappearing down the long narrow hallway, illuminated by the ceiling lights. Emanuel chuckled lightly as he placed the strips of Bacon on a flat, white porcelain dish and walked to the Refrigerator.

A yawn escaped his mouth, and he hurriedly covered it as he felt languidly decrepit. He suddenly wondered if it would be a good idea to drive Elias to School in his condition, but unfortunately he had no other choice in the matter.

"Found it!" Elias voice announced loudly as he bounded back into the Living Room, placing his Backpack on one of the stools behind the Island Counter.

Emanuel spun around, smiling proudly at Elias as the small boy climbed atop a Stool. Clasping both his hands together while gazing at his Father.

"Good Boy," Emanuel spoke as he turned his attention back to the Refrigerator in search of Eggs.

He soon spotted them, and pulled them out of the fridge, pausing as he yawned more loudly making Elias furrow his eyebrows.

"Dad, you look tired," Elias pointed out and Emanuel pursed his lips as he walked back to the Stove.

Emanuel's eyes had sunken into holes, with dark circles around them, that was sure to still be there even if he slept the whole day. For the night before had been substantially strenuous, and he fought the urge to file a resignation and take a much needed hiatus. Though it wouldn't have been something he would suggest to himself, if he was in the right state of mind. It appeared the less rest he got, the more delirious he was prone to be, and it was beleaguering if not altogether deplorable.

Bills had to be paid, and a paid leave wasn't a choice, considering the Board wouldn't allow it, even if Emanuel was one of the best Doctors they had. They'd rather him fired, than pay him for doing nothing at all and Emanuel thought it terribly unfair.

He had devoted 6 years of his life to Sanbridge General, and though the benefits were good he still felt cheated. He loved his Job and he just as easily loved saving lives as he did everyday, no matter how much of a challenge it was.

But the days were slowly dimming into ones where that adoration for medicine and all it's delights, weighed down on Emanuel like a ton of bricks.

He lived and breathed Medicine, but days had passed when he wished that he could just distract himself from it. And as the days flew past, he grew more and more depressed by the Graveyard shift, for it had taken away too much of his time. The sleeping patterns grew nauseating, and the lack of sleep at night didn't go over so well with his body. Though being used to the constantly shifting hours, his body grew more fatigued daily and he feared the worst of his health, if he didn't do something about it.

"I am, Monkey, but I just need to get you to School so I can rest and then come pick you up again later before I head back to Work."

"I admire the fact that you save people, Dad, but if your current state is any indication to what I might be facing, I don't want to become a Doctor," Elias remarked and Emanuel spun on his heels to look at his Son in surprise.

"Really? Why?"

"Because it's just too much to be working all night, I miss you reading me bedtime Stories."

Emanuel grew saddened by Elias' words, and his eyes stung as he felt he had been betraying his own Child. It had dawned on Emanuel that Elias was getting older, which meant he was much wiser than his own good and it bothered Emanuel. As a Father he knew he had to make sacrifices, but the only thing he felt he was sacrificing, was the time and joy of being with his Son. Sacrificing it instead of a Career that he was good at, yet knew was a problem since he had become a Father to the Boy.

A boy that was far from normal, and needed an extra twist of emotional stability to keep him rooted.

Emanuel lowered the heat on the Stove, then wiped his hands in a dishrag. He walked towards the Counter, and stepped around it to sit beside Elias. Mentally trying to decipher what words of assurance he could offer to a Boy that was gradually losing his patience, as it concerned his Father. Emanuel sighed as Elias peered up at him with his piercing eyes, regarding the issue his Father faced.

"I'm sorry I haven't been there for you, Elias, and I know you must think I'm a bad Dad. I should do more to spend time with you so I will try my best, just give me a couple more weeks, please." Emanuel pleaded with the boy.

Elias gazed up at him, seemingly exasperated for he had heard that line time and time again, but yet it never bore any fulfillment to the promise.

"You always say that," Elias said with a scowl and Emanuel's heart raced in his chest.

"Elias," Emanuel began but paused as he felt his arms throbbing, only not as painful as his heart that felt as if it was being tugged out of his chest.

"You don't even have time to date anymore, and Mom is a Lawyer but she finds time to date and have a Boyfriend."

These words from Elias shocked Emanuel, and made him feel even worse than he had been just seconds before. A sense of betrayal overcame him, and at that moment Emanuel hadn't the slightest idea what to say. So he chose to hide the truth, though it wasn't opposed to the blatant lie he had in mind.

"Elias, it's not that simple to just up and date just like that, and even if I do date, I have to make sure that that person is worth continuing with." Emanuel explained to Elias, who finally found it in himself to stare up at Emanuel with a dolefully despondent gaze.

"I love you, Dad, but I'd feel a lot better if you even started dating. Your life has always been focused on just me and your Job, and you're not exactly getting any younger," Elias stated matter of factly and Emanuel's mouth gaped open.

He tried to fathom how Elias had become wiser over the past few weeks, and he felt as if he had missed too much of his Son's growth. A Son that was a little genius, with a 174 IQ that had surprised Emanuel when he first learned of it. Emanuel knew that one day it would be his histrionic undoing, when Elias would psycho-analyze him. But never did he think it would happen so soon, and he hadn't anticipated it hurting or annoying him the way it did then and there.

"El-," Emanuel began to speak again, but the doorbell rang loudly and they both swiveled their heads toward the Living Room.

"I'll get it, you have Eggs to scramble." Elias said and Emanuel sighed heavily as he heard a small hint of reproach in Elias' voice.

Emanuel stood up from the Stool and walked back to the Stove, placing a clean Skillet on top. He grew frantic at Elias words, and they never ceased to make his heart beat any less erratic as he pondered finally telling Elias about Brandan. Yet it only grew worse, as the next word from Elias' mouth reverberated throughout the Living Room and the Kitchen; making Emanuel's face grow ashen with angst.

〰