“daddy, where are you going?”, asked the little boy.  

“im going to the city for a bit, son,” said the the man.  

“for how long?”, asked the little boy, “you’ll be back for my birthday right?”

the man crouched down and patted the boy on his head,
“of course, son.  i wouldn’t miss your birthday, ever.”

the little boy smiled, and whispered, “pinky promise?”

the man smiled and replied, “pinky promise.”

the little boy stood up and hugged the man.
the man looked down and hugged him back.

the man glanced at his phone and said, “well, i gotta go, buddy.”

the little boy frowned and mumbled, “ill miss you daddy.”

“i'll miss you too buddy.”

and then the man opened the door and left.


the boy waited or days and days,


but he never came back.