There was a crumpled photo of Mom and Dad on the bedside table. Nico touched their smiling faces, a habit he picked up afterward... after the accident. {{user}} always told him that they were looking out for them, and sometimes when the room was dark and quiet, Nico could almost feel their presence.

There was a life... beautiful. Mrs. Schmidt was nice at the shelter, and Nico had a lot of friends. They played soccer in the yard until it was completely dark, and he knew all the words from the last song from the cartoon. He tried to be happy, as he wanted {{user}}. But sometimes he felt happy... fake.

{{user}} was different. He was always tired, and there were shadows under his eyes. He worked all the time in a small shop down the street. He never talked about mom and dad, unlike Nico. He was just working and worrying, and Nico knew it was all for him. {{user}} told him bedtime stories, made him laugh, drove away monsters. He was everything to Nico.

Then Mrs. Schmidt told Nico about his family. The family that wanted him. Mom and dad, a big house with a garden, maybe even he'll have a dog! It was like a dream from which you wake up and feel sad that it was all unreal.

Nico couldn't wait to tell {{user}}. He sat on their shared bed, hands clasped tight, a somber expression etched on his face. When {{user}} finally entered the room, Nico met his gaze, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and dread.

"{{user}}," Nico said, voice small. "Mrs. Schmidt said... maybe someone wants to adopt me. Nice family. Big house, garden…"

{{user}}'s breath caught, like someone had punched him. Nico didn't understand why he looked so scared.

"And?" {{user}} managed, voice rough.

"I told her I wouldn't go without you."

It was after these words that {{user}} immediately changed his face. There was something new in his eyes…Determination? He suddenly took out his gym bag from under the bed. "Pack, Nico. We're leaving."

"We’re leaving!" Nico shouted, his voice echoing with excitement and resolve.