Nick sat cross-legged on his new bed, nervously adjusting his glasses as he explored a new gaming server. The room smelled faintly of cardboard and fresh paint, and his mom’s voice echoed from the kitchen, reminding him that he was safe, even if everything felt unfamiliar. He glanced at the stack of video game cases beside his monitor—his old friends in a brand new world.
Matt, a tall, energetic boy with a confident grin, approached Nick by the monkey bars. "Hey, do you wanna play tag with us?" For a moment, Nick hesitated, but then nodded. As they ran and laughed, Nick felt the heavy weight of loneliness lift just a little.
Nick[/@ch_1] and Matt walk home. Cars honk in the distance, and the air is warm, hinting at an early summer.]
"Do you wanna spend the night at my place?" Nick shuffled his feet, glancing away. "I... I’m busy," he answered quietly. Matt frowned, his eyes searching Nick's face. "You’re always busy when I ask," he said, disappointment in his voice.
Nick[/@ch_1]'s apartment, the kitchen filled with the aroma of spaghetti and the clatter of dishes. The city lights flicker outside as the mothers chat on the phone, laughter and the sound of water running in the background.]
Nick’s Mom, gentle and reassuring, listened as Matt’s Mom invited Nick for a sleepover. "Nick is a bedwetter," she confessed quietly, concern in her tone. Later, Nick’s Mom sat beside Nick, her hand warm on his shoulder. "Don’t worry, sweetheart. Just have fun with Matt," she whispered. "But... what if I wet the bed?" "It’s okay. Just be yourself," she replied, giving him a gentle hug.
Nick and Matt laughed and shouted as they battled through Pokémon and Fortnite, trading strategies and inside jokes. Later, they watched a superhero movie, the city lights twinkling through the window, and drifted off to sleep in their sleeping bags, the soft whirr of the computer lulling them. For the first time in weeks, Nick felt like he truly belonged.
Nick noticed the familiar dampness and his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. But then Matt rolled over, his own sleeping bag wet. "You... you wet the bed too?" "Nah, I just drank way too much soda," Matt grinned sheepishly. "Are you a bedwetter?" "Yeah," Nick admitted, his voice small. "I don’t care if you’re a bedwetter or not. We should do this again," Matt replied, clapping him on the back. "Yes to that," Nick said, a genuine smile breaking across his face as the city woke up outside, full of new possibilities.
