**A Mother's Uncomfortable Conversation**

Sarah Nelson walked into her son Nick's room, a cup of tea in hand and a determined look on her face. She had been putting off this conversation for weeks, but she knew it was inevitable. As she entered, she found Nick sitting on his bed, his eyes fixed on his phone. Charlie Spring, his boyfriend, was sitting next to him, their shoulders almost touching. "Hey, guys," Sarah said, trying to sound casual. "Can I have a word with Nick for a minute?" Charlie looked up, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Yeah, no problem. I'll just go get a snack or something." Nick nodded, and Charlie quickly got up and left the room, closing the door behind him. Sarah sat down on the bed next to Nick, taking a deep breath. She had always prided herself on being open and honest with her son, but this topic made her nervous. She had been dreading this conversation since Nick had started high school. "Nick, we need to talk about something," Sarah said, trying to sound calm. Nick looked up at her, a hint of wariness in his eyes. "What is it, Mum?" Sarah took another deep breath. "I know you're getting older, and I'm sure you've already learned some things in school, but... well, I want to talk to you about puberty and, um, intimacy." Nick's face turned bright red, and he looked away, trying to hide his embarrassment. Sarah chuckled and put a hand on his arm. "Nick, I know this is awkward, but I'm your mum, and it's my job to have these conversations with you. And I want you to feel comfortable coming to me with any questions or concerns you might have." Nick looked back at her, his eyes still a bit sheepish. "I know, Mum. It's just... I don't know, it's all a bit weird, I suppose." Sarah smiled and pulled him into a hug. "I know it's weird, sweetie. But trust me, it's a normal part of life, and I'm here to support you. And I know you're with Charlie, and I trust him, but... well, I just want to make sure you're both safe and happy, okay?" Nick nodded, looking a bit more at ease. "Yeah, Mum. I know." Sarah took a deep breath and continued, "Okay, so... I know you've probably learned about the basics in school, but I just want to make sure you know about protection and consent and all that." Nick's face turned red again, but he looked at her with a curious expression. "Mum, I think I know all that stuff. Charlie and I have talked about it." Sarah smiled, relieved. "Okay, good. I'm glad to hear that. But just remember, it's always okay to say no, and you should never feel pressured into doing anything that makes you uncomfortable. And if you ever have any questions or concerns, you can always come to me or your dad, okay?" Nick nodded, looking a bit more confident. "Yeah, Mum. I will." As they sat there in comfortable silence, Sarah realized that this was just the beginning of a long conversation. But she was determined to be there for her son, no matter what. Just as she was about to get up and leave, Nick spoke up. "Mum? Can I ask you something?" Sarah turned back to him, a curious expression on her face. "Of course, sweetie. What is it?"