The soft knock on the hospital door came mid-morning, breaking the quiet rhythm of the day. Fina looked up from her bed, the shadows under her eyes still visible despite the faint smile tugging at her lips when Isabella opened the door.

"Fina," her mother said gently, "you have a visitor."

Stepping inside was Mia, her face a mix of nervousness and relief. Her usually playful demeanor was subdued, her shoulders tense as she carried a small bouquet of daisies and lavender in one hand and a stuffed bear in the other.

"Mia," Fina said softly, her voice catching in her throat.

Mia's lips trembled as she rushed to the bedside, placing the flowers and bear on the nearby table before wrapping her arms around Fina in a gentle but firm hug. "Don't you ever scare me like that again," she whispered, her voice cracking.

Fina stiffened at first, but then she melted into the hug, her own arms wrapping tightly around Mia. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Mia pulled back just enough to look at her, her eyes glassy. "Don't apologize. Just... you're not allowed to give up, okay? I can't lose you, Fina. I won't."

Fina nodded, her own tears spilling over. "I promise. I'm trying, Mia. I really am."

Mia cupped her face, her tone fierce despite the tears streaming down her cheeks. "Good. Because you're stuck with me, and I'm not letting you go anywhere. You hear me?"

A faint laugh escaped Fina, the sound soft but genuine. "I hear you."

Isabella smiled from the corner, her own eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I'll give you two some time alone," she said before stepping out of the room.

Mia pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down, her eyes falling to Fina's hands resting on the blanket. The faint scars stood out against her pale skin, and Mia's heart ached at the sight. Without a word, she reached out, gently taking Fina's hands in her own.

Fina tensed, her gaze darting away in shame. "Mia, you don't have to—"

"Shh," Mia interrupted softly, lifting one of Fina's hands. She pressed a gentle, friendly kiss to the faint scars, her lips lingering for a moment as if to erase the pain they represented. Then she did the same to the other hand, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

Fina's breath hitched, tears streaming down her face as she whispered, "Mia, why—?"

"Because these hands belong to someone I love," Mia said, her voice steady despite her own tears. "And no matter what you've been through, no matter what you've done to yourself, you're still Fina. My Fina. And I'm going to remind you of that every single day if I have to."

The room was silent except for Fina's quiet sobs. She clutched Mia's hands tightly, her heart swelling with gratitude and a flicker of hope.

Mia smiled gently, wiping a tear from Fina's cheek. "You don't have to go through this alone, okay? I'm here. Always."

Fina nodded, her voice shaky but sincere. "Thank you, Mia. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Mia leaned back, brushing a strand of hair from Fina's face. "Well, lucky for you, you'll never have to find out."

The two friends sat together, the weight of the past week easing just a little as they shared the kind of quiet understanding only true friends could offer.

The knock at the door came again, this time louder, followed by a familiar voice. "Mia? Fina? You decent in there?"

Mia's head shot up, her expression instantly lightening. "Ethan?"

Fina glanced toward the door, her heart fluttering with a mix of emotions. "Come in," she called weakly.

Ethan poked his head in first, his curly hair as disheveled as ever. He grinned when he saw Fina awake, though the relief in his eyes betrayed his casual demeanor. He stepped inside, carrying a paper bag that smelled faintly of her favorite pastries.

"Look who's alive and kicking," Ethan teased gently, his voice tinged with warmth as he came closer.

"Barely," Fina muttered, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

Ethan's grin softened as he set the bag down on the table beside Mia's flowers. He leaned down to give Fina a gentle hug, careful of her IV. "You scared the crap out of us, you know that?"

"Trust me, I know," Fina said quietly, her voice heavy with guilt.

Mia, still holding one of Fina's hands, chimed in, "I already gave her the lecture, Ethan. You don't need to pile on."

"Lecture?" Ethan scoffed, pulling up a chair on the opposite side of the bed. "Nah, I'm just here to make sure she knows she's stuck with us, whether she likes it or not."

Fina blinked back tears, overwhelmed by the love radiating from both of her friends. "You guys..."

Ethan smirked, grabbing one of the pastries from the bag and unwrapping it. "We're not going anywhere, Fina. And if you think otherwise, you're even more delusional than I thought." He broke off a piece of the pastry and held it out to her. "Here. Eat something. You've probably been living off Jell-O and despair."

Fina laughed softly, the sound surprising even herself. "You're ridiculous," she said, but she took the bite he offered, chewing slowly.

Mia leaned back in her chair, smiling as she watched the interaction. "See? This is what you need, Fina. People who care about you."

Ethan nodded in agreement. "And if you forget that again, I'll be here to remind you. Loudly. Probably with more baked goods."

The three of them fell into easy conversation, the heaviness in the room lifting little by little. For the first time in what felt like forever, Fina allowed herself to feel the warmth of their friendship, letting it soothe the raw edges of her pain.

As the afternoon wore on, the trio laughed, shared stories, and even poked gentle fun at one another. And for a brief moment, Fina felt like herself again.

As the laughter between them settled, Mia leaned forward in her chair, resting her elbows on her knees. Her tone turned more serious as she glanced at Fina. "So... are we gonna talk about the elephant in the room?"

Fina frowned, her chest tightening. "What do you mean?"

Mia raised an eyebrow knowingly. "You know. Aiden and that... situation with her."

Fina tensed at the mention of his name, her gaze dropping to her lap. She didn't know if she had the energy to talk about it, but the expectant looks from both Mia and Ethan left her little choice.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "I still can't believe you saw that. If I'd been there, I would've knocked Aiden flat on his ass."

"Ethan," Mia warned gently, though there was a flicker of agreement in her eyes.

"No, he has a point," Fina muttered, her voice soft. "I thought... I thought I could trust him." Her hands clenched the blanket as she spoke, her voice cracking. "I saw them, Mia. I saw her kissing him. And he just—he didn't stop her fast enough."

Mia's eyes softened, and she reached out to squeeze Fina's hand. "But he did stop her, right? Didn't he explain?"

Fina nodded reluctantly. "He said she kissed him, and he pushed her away. He swore it meant nothing, and that he was angry at her for even trying. But..." She hesitated, her voice trembling. "It still hurt. Seeing it. It broke something in me."

Ethan scoffed, shaking his head. "That Sophia girl is nothing but trouble. Always has been. She's been trying to weasel her way into Aiden's life forever."

"Yeah," Mia added, her tone dripping with disdain. "She's always had a thing for him, and she'll do anything to get attention. You know that, Fina."

Fina swallowed hard, her throat tight. "But what if she's right? What if she's better for him? She's confident and beautiful, and I'm just..." Her voice trailed off as tears filled her eyes.

"Stop that," Mia said firmly, leaning closer. "You're everything Aiden wants. He chose you, Fina. Not her. And he's an idiot if he let her get to him even for a second, but you've got to trust what he says. He pushed her away, didn't he?"

Fina sniffled, wiping her eyes. "He did. But... I don't know if I can trust him the same way anymore. Not after what I saw."

Ethan leaned forward, his expression serious. "Look, I'm not saying you have to forgive him overnight. But you are the best thing that's ever happened to him, Fina. And if he's smart, he'll prove it to you. Sophia doesn't stand a chance next to you."

Fina hesitated, her heart torn between the pain she felt and the faint hope her friends' words ignited. "I just... I need time. I need to figure out if I can move past this."

Mia smiled gently. "And we'll be here every step of the way. No matter what you decide, you're not facing this alone."

Ethan nodded. "Yeah. And if Aiden screws up again, I'll handle him myself."

The corners of Fina's mouth lifted into a small smile despite herself. "Thanks, guys. I don't deserve you."

"Don't be ridiculous," Mia said, grinning. "You deserve the world, Fina. And we'll remind you of that as many times as it takes."

With her friends by her side, Fina felt the tiniest flicker of strength return. Maybe, just maybe, she could get through this after all.

a/n

im brainblockkkked, do you guys think her and Aiden should get back together ?????? or find someone new ...