Empty Nights

Lately, I've found myself slipping into an old habit with my wife. We're both in our forties and have been married for years, but sometimes, after the kids are asleep and the house is quiet, I take on a role I hadn't intended to revisit. She calls me 'Daddy,' and it feels like more than just a game. There's an emptiness there that neither of us talks about, but these moments feel like a connection we're both searching for. It's sad, really, because in her eyes, I see a longing mirrored back at me.