Ethan pushed open the door to their shared dorm room, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. The space was sparse, with identical beds on either side, a small window overlooking the quad, and the obligatory posters left by previous occupants. Lucas followed, his face a reflection of Ethan's emotions, a blend of anticipation and a hint of nervousness. "Looks like we made it," Ethan said, trying to break the ice. "Yeah," Lucas replied with a smile, dumping his bags on the bed. "Feels surreal, doesn't it?"

As they unpacked, both Ethan and Lucas exchanged stories about their hometowns, their families, and what they hoped to achieve in college. Yet, beneath their cheerful chatter, an unspoken secret lingered—a fear they both shared but dared not voice. "What are you majoring in?" Ethan asked, placing a stack of textbooks on his desk. "Psychology. You?" Lucas responded, hanging up a poster of a renowned artist. "Engineering," Ethan said, glancing at Lucas. "Guess we'll be spending a lot of time in different buildings."

The first night was the hardest. Ethan lay awake, eyes fixed on the ceiling, listening to Lucas's steady breathing. A knot of anxiety tightened in his stomach, a familiar feeling that threatened to unravel his composure. Lucas, meanwhile, shifted uneasily in his bed, the weight of his secret pressing down like the blanket he clutched. He wanted to turn over, to confess, to seek solace in shared fears, but the words wouldn't come.

Lucas woke to find Ethan already up, a look of concern etched on his face. An awkward silence hung between them, the kind that is heavy with unsaid truths. "Hey, can we talk?" Ethan finally said, his voice hesitant but resolute. "Yeah, sure," Lucas replied, sitting up and bracing himself. "I... I have this thing," Ethan began, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Sometimes, when I'm stressed, I wet the bed. It's been like that for a while now." Lucas let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "Me too," he admitted, relief flooding his voice.

With their secrets laid bare, Ethan and Lucas found solace in their shared vulnerability. They laughed at the irony of their situation, at how they had both feared the same thing yet found strength in each other's understanding. "Guess we have each other's backs, huh?" Ethan said, a grin spreading across his face. "Yeah," Lucas agreed, feeling a bond form that was deeper than friendship. "No more secrets."

The two friends stepped out of their dorm, ready to face the challenges of college life. With their burdens lightened, Ethan and Lucas walked side by side, knowing that whatever came their way, they wouldn't face it alone.