Chapter 1: A Typical Morning

I woke up to the sound of my husband, Nick's dad, making breakfast in the kitchen. It was a typical Saturday morning at the Nelson household. I stretched my arms and yawned, feeling the softness of our duvet. I loved weekends. They were a time for relaxation, a time to recharge before another busy week. As I got out of bed, I heard the shower running in the bathroom. Nick, my son, was probably getting ready for another day of school. I smiled to myself, thinking about how much he loved Fridays, but dreaded Mondays. I made my way downstairs to help Nick's dad with breakfast. The kitchen was filled with the delicious smell of bacon and toast. Nick's dad was expertly flipping eggs in a pan. "Morning, love," he said, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. "How are you?" "I'm good, thanks," I replied, pouring myself a cup of coffee. "How's Nick doing? He's been a bit quiet lately." Nick's dad put down the spatula and came over to me. "He's fine, just a bit preoccupied, I think. You know how it is at his age." He smiled and handed me a plate of toast. Just then, Nick walked into the kitchen, his hair damp from the shower. He gave us a quick hello and sat down at the table. His eyes scanned the food, and he smiled when he saw the bacon. As we ate breakfast together, the conversation was a bit stilted. Nick was clearly lost in thought. I tried to make small talk, asking him about his plans for the weekend, but he just shrugged and said he wasn't sure yet. After breakfast, Nick's dad headed out to do some work in the garden, and I started cleaning up the kitchen. Nick got up and went to get his bag, probably to head out to meet his friends. I called out to him, "Nick, don't forget to eat your lunch today, okay?" He shouted back, "Yeah, Mum, I will!" and then he was out the door. As I watched him go, I couldn't help but feel a pang of worry. Nick was a good kid, but he was at that age where everything seemed to be a bit more complicated. His dad and I had always tried to be supportive, to be there for him no matter what. But sometimes, I felt like I was just making it up as I went along. I sighed and put the dishes in the dishwasher. It was going to be one of those days, I could tell.