[COMPLETE] If i could turn back time

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When Lily suggested they should do road trips more often, Mia fell silent. She looked at Lily, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions. She wanted to agree, to promise they would do it again, but she couldn't. She was scared she wouldn't be able to fulfill that wish.

"I... I would love that," Mia finally said, her voice barely a whisper. "But let's just focus on this trip for now. Let's make the most of it."

Ava and Lily caught the hesitation in Mia's voice, but they chose not to press her. They understood her fear, her uncertainty. So, they agreed to focus on the present, to make the most of their current journey.

After their memorable road trip, they returned home. While Ava and Lily were out buying groceries, Mia, who had stayed at home, suddenly experienced a severe headache. It was one of the side effects of her condition, and it hit her hard.

With unsteady steps, she tried to find her medication, creating a mess in the process. Despite the chaos and the pain, she finally found her pills and managed to take them. She then collapsed on the couch, waiting for the pain to subside.

When Ava and Lily returned from grocery shopping, they were shocked to find the house in a mess. They quickly dropped their bags and began searching for Mia, their hearts pounding with worry.

They found Mia on the couch, her face pale and her body drenched in sweat. Seeing her in such a state, they were filled with concern, but they were also confused. They didn't know about Mia's illness, so they couldn't understand why she was in such a condition.

They rushed to her side, their disagreements and worries forgotten. They comforted Mia, assuring her they were there for her. They cleaned up the mess, their actions filled with a newfound determination to be there for Mia, to support her in every way they could.

Despite her condition, Mia managed to muster a weak smile when Ava and Lily rushed to her side. "I'm okay," she assured them, her voice a little shaky but her demeanor surprisingly bubbly. "It's just a headache. And I can clean up the mess I made."

Ava and Lily exchanged worried glances but chose to believe her. They didn't want to push her, to make her feel uncomfortable. "Alright, Mia," Lily said, trying to hide her worry. "But if you need help, just let us know, okay?"

Mia nodded, her smile not wavering. She then proceeded to clean up the mess, her movements careful and slow. Ava and Lily watched her, their hearts filled with worry and admiration for their friend's determination.

One night, as Mia headed to the kitchen for a glass of water, she found Ava sitting at the dining table, engrossed in her work. She watched Ava for a moment, her heart filled with gratitude and guilt.

"Ava," she began, her voice soft. "Can we talk?"

Ava looked up, surprised to see Mia up so late. "Of course, Mia," she said, pushing her work aside. "What's up?"

Mia took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "I... I just wanted to say... thank you," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "And I'm sorry. For everything."

Ava was taken aback by Mia's words. She reached out, taking Mia's hand in hers. "Mia, you don't have to apologize," she said, her voice gentle. "And you don't have to thank us. We're here for you, always."

Mia took a deep breath. "I mean it, Ava," she said, her voice shaky. "You and Lily... you've been there for me, through everything. And I... I haven't been the easiest person to deal with."

Ava squeezed Mia's hand, giving her a reassuring smile. "Mia, we're friends," she said. "We stick by each other, no matter what. And you... you're stronger than you give yourself credit for."

Mia smiled at Ava's words, but there was a sadness in her eyes. "I just... I feel like I've been a burden," she admitted. "And I'm sorry for that. And I'm grateful... so grateful for everything you've done for me."

Ava shook her head, her gaze serious. "You're not a burden, Mia," she said firmly. "And you don't have to apologize. We're here for you, always. Remember that."

Mia looked down at their joined hands, her mind racing with thoughts. "I'm sorry for the mess earlier," she started, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm sorry for the headaches, for the worry I've caused you. I'm sorry for the road trip, for making you guys focus on me."

Ava listened to Mia's apologies, her heart aching. She could hear the guilt in Mia's voice, see the regret in her eyes. "Mia," she said gently, interrupting her stream of apologies. "You don't have to apologize for any of that."

"But I do, Ava," Mia insisted, looking up at her. "I've caused you and Lily so much stress, so much worry. And I... I just feel so guilty."

Ava shook her head, her gaze soft but firm. "Mia, we chose to be there for you," she said. "We chose to go on the road trip, to support you. You haven't forced us to do anything. And you're not a burden, not to us."

Mia shook her head at Ava's words, her eyes filled with frustration. "You don't understand, Ava," she said, her voice firm. "You're supposed to blame me. You're supposed to be angry at me. I've put you through so much."

Ava was taken aback by Mia's words. She looked at Mia, her eyes filled with concern. "Mia, why would we blame you?" she asked, her voice gentle. "Why would we be angry at you? You're dealing with a lot, and we just want to support you."

"But I've caused you so much stress," Mia insisted, her voice choked with emotion. "I've caused so much trouble. I... I deserve to be blamed."

Mia looked at Ava, her gaze steady. "I've seen the stress in your eyes, Ava," she said, her voice firm. "I've seen how worried you've been, how much this has been affecting you. And our argument... it was because of me, wasn't it?"

Ava was silent for a moment, taken aback by Mia's words. She couldn't deny the truth in them. Yes, they had been stressed. Yes, they had been worried. And yes, their argument had been triggered by their concern for Mia.

"Mia," Ava finally said, her voice filled with emotion. "Yes, we've been stressed. Yes, we've been worried. But that's not your fault. We chose to be there for you, to support you. And our argument... it was a result of our worry, not because of you."