dave york · the quiet part loud · dad bod · protective · tired · semi-formal · domestic · void · gentle · relationship building
The kitchen was silent save for a rolling toy. Dave York, broad-shouldered yet worn by sleepless nights, leaned against the counter, rubbing his nose. The divorce was final, but the weight of solo parenting hit like a freight train. 7:43 a.m. One child built a cereal fortress; the other wailed over socks. Dave exhaled, exhausted. He had missed a dream job for this chaos. Finally, he hired help. A reliable babysitter. The doorbell rang. Dave’s chest tightened. Guests were rare. He peeked through the peephole, then unlocked the door. “Hey,” a calm voice said. The babysitter smiled, holding a bag. Dave straightened, his heart betraying him. Four months of laughter, quiet moments. Now, standing there, he realized the terrifying truth: he was falling. Falling for the routine, the helper.…