Boundless Love (book 3)

One Step Forward

Tw: anxiety, fear, crying, medication

Nick's POV:

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. I slowly opened my eyes, blinking away the remnants of sleep. For a moment, I felt a familiar heaviness in my chest, the weight of everything I had been carrying for so long. But then I turned to see Charlie still asleep beside me, his face peaceful and calm. A sense of reassurance washed over me. We were in this together, and that thought alone made the weight feel a little lighter.

I glanced at the nightstand where my medications sat, neatly arranged in a row. Charlie had gone out to get them last night, ensuring that I had everything I needed to keep moving forward. The thought filled me with a mixture of gratitude and guilt. He always took care of me, always knew what I needed, even when I couldn't see it myself.

I carefully got out of bed, not wanting to wake him. As I reached for the bottles, I felt a pang of anxiety—a reminder of how much I relied on these tiny pills to function. It was a reality I was still struggling to accept, even after all this time.

I shook out the pills, swallowing them one by one, chasing them down with a glass of water. The familiar routine grounded me, but it also served as a reminder of the challenges I faced daily. As I stood there, I made a decision: today, I was going to take a step forward.

 ~A Morning of Challenges~

After breakfast with Charlie and the twins, I decided to face something I had been avoiding for months—driving alone. The thought sent a wave of anxiety through me, but I knew it was a necessary step. I needed to regain some sense of independence, to prove to myself that I could do this.

"Charlie, I'm going to run some errands," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

He looked up from his coffee, surprise flickering across his face. "By yourself?"

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah. I think it's time I tried."

Charlie studied me for a moment, his eyes full of concern. "Are you sure you're ready?"

"I need to try," I replied, more to convince myself than him. "It's just a short drive to the grocery store. I'll be fine."

He reached out and squeezed my hand. "I'm proud of you, Nick. Just take it easy, okay?"

"I will," I promised, feeling a mixture of fear and determination as I grabbed my keys and headed out the door.