The Educator

"How old is he now?" I ask

"I think tenor eleven? That kid is really something. He's so passionate, smart, charitable, kind-hearted and very funny" he smiles to himself at the memory of the child. "I would love for you to meet him someday" he says.

"You allowed yourself to be a father figure to his child, Elliot. I think that's the most generous gesture anyone has ever done.

I smile at Elliot. I think I've come to like Elliot more today. He's not only a gentleman because he needs to. He actually is a gentleman as it is. "Elliot?" I call out his name.

"Yes?"

"Why did you help her?" I ask him.

He looks at me, "Because, she we have history. We shared moments, strengths and weaknesses, we grew together, Eli. So it matters to me that I help her" he says.

Elliot is the type of man that does not let situation come in between him and a person he's had close ties with. I smile at Elliot and we both fall in silence.

"Eli" he says again

"Yeah?"

"I know this is going to be awkward but I just want to be honest with you. I don't want you to feel used or as if I am taking advantage of the situation to gain something. I just want to tell you that whatever happened between us, that was something I did because I was in the moment with you."

I bit my lower lip, trying to refrain from smiling wide, "Elliot, what happened between us was good, it felt good and I know I want to do it again... with you" I say. I can't believe I said that out loud. Did I say it? Or did I just imagine it. Wait, I think I did say it out loud! How stupid can you be, Eli?

I want to do it again with you. Oh, Jesus Christ! Where did that come from? Elliot must think I'm this hopeless romantic who can't keep arrangements simple.

Elliot clears his throat and says, "Eli, we did that with mutual consent, right? Along the way, you never felt forced?" he asked me.

"No, no, no, Elliot. It was mutual and yes we did that with consent." I affirm. Elliot nods and we fall silent again.

"Elliot?" I call out his name

"Eli?"

"What are we exactly?" I ask him. He looks at me and I look at him. We are both frozen, we process this relationship that we have, thinking what best to call it. I honestly want it to be simple, to be mutual, that neither of us get hurt along the way. Neither of us longing for something the other could not give.

"What do you want us to be?" he asked me, "because if you ask me, Eli. I just want us to be married, act married and ..." he trails off.

"And?" I urge him to continue.

"And be in a relationship. Something we both want, a relationship where we are going to grow together" he says.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐