"A Mother's Dilemma"

Sarah and Nick sat on the bed, side by side, but not touching, the tension between them still palpable. The room was silent for a moment, with only the sound of Nick's ragged breathing breaking the silence. Sarah took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts and choose the right words. "Nick, I know what I saw," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "And I'm not here to lecture you or punish you. I just want to understand what's going on and make sure you're okay." Nick looked down, his face still flushed, and nodded slowly. "I'm fine, Mum. It's just... it's something I do when I'm stressed or bored." Sarah raised an eyebrow, her curiosity getting the better of her. "What is it, exactly? Gooning, I mean." Nick sighed, his shoulders sagging. "It's just a thing I do, okay? I watch videos and... and I get caught up in it, I guess." Sarah hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. She didn't want to pry, but she also wanted to make sure Nick was safe and healthy. "Nick, can I ask you something?" she said, her voice soft. Nick nodded, still looking down. "Is... is this something you're doing to, you know, pleasure yourself?" Sarah asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Nick's face turned bright red, and he nodded slowly, his eyes still fixed on the floor. Sarah took a deep breath, trying to process this new information. She had suspected as much, but it was still a shock to hear it confirmed. As a mother, she wasn't sure how to react, but she knew she wanted to have an open and honest conversation with her son. "Nick, I want you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what," she said, her voice firm. "But I also want to make sure you're safe and healthy. Can we talk about... safety and stuff?" Nick nodded, still looking down, and Sarah could see the relief in his body language. She knew this wasn't going to be an easy conversation, but she was determined to have it with her son.