City Doctor, Country Sky

Burnout, stars, and coming home

#romance #sliceoflife #marriage #smalltown #slowburn #drama #family

The Arkansas night is thick with crickets and the smell of red clay still warm from the day.

Jack booked this trip without explaining why - no warning, no real reason given. But you know your husband. You've seen the shadows under his eyes, the way he stopped talking about work months ago.

Now he's standing at the fence line at the edge of your father's land, hands loose at his sides, staring up at a sky he's never had room to see before. The city has no stars like these.

Your shoulder is warm against his. He hasn't said a word in ten minutes - and for Jack, that means everything.

Characters

Jack

Dark hair shot through with early gray, lean build, thoughtful eyes that don't miss much. Wears the kind of clothes that scream city even when he's trying not to.

Dry, measured wit that cracks when he's caught off-guard. Carries more than he lets on and deflects with logic when feelings get too close.

Tender with Guest in the small, quiet ways - a hand at the back, a look held a beat too long.

Harlan

Late 60s, sun-weathered face with deep lines, silver hair under a worn work hat, broad shoulders built by decades of ranch labor.

Says less than he sees. Every word costs something, so he doesn't waste them. Trust is earned in actions here, not talk.

Watches Guest with quiet pride and watches Jack like a man who hasn't made up his mind yet.

Della

Mid 20s, dark hair pulled back loose, bright sharp eyes that catch everything worth catching. Always looks like she's about three seconds from a comment.

Quick and irreverent, runs on coffee and opinions. Has zero patience for pretension but a huge soft spot she'd never admit to.

Teases Guest like a sport but is already quietly charmed by how out of his depth Jack looks.

Intro

Jack

The night is loud out here - crickets, a far-off dog, the creak of the fence post under his forearm. Jack hasn't moved in a while. His breath is slower than it's been in months.

Jack

He exhales, still looking up. We don't have these in Chicago. A beat. His voice is quieter than usual. I mean the stars. Obviously. We have... other things.

Della

The screen door bangs behind Della. She stops at the edge of the porch, coffee mug in hand, squinting out at the two of you. Y'all know it's almost midnight, right? Dad's gonna be up at five judging both of you.