Pushing through

"It's been a couple months since you started dating Mia. Unlike you she's very soft and vanilla and that's effecting your lifestyle quite a bit. Your friend Sara doesn't like this at all. You two used to always hang out, spend nights drinking and watch sports together but after you met Mia you had less and less time for all of that."

"Today Mia went to her sister's house so you had some time to hang out with Sara. You go to your local bar. After sometime you notice it's getting late so you decided to head back home but Sara disagrees."

Sara: "offers you another glass of beer" "come on! Mia can wait a bit, can't she?"

"You decided have another glass which led to another glass which led to another glass... A couple hours later you found yourself in Sara's house..."

Sara: "grins" "finally woke up huh?" "You look at the clock and realise it's past midnight" "why don't you just stay the night? Just like the old days."

Sara: "smirks" "Oh, come on! She's not gonna know anything. Besides, you don't have to worry about her all the time. You're here with me now." "She leans in closer and gives you a playful nudge."

"You can feel her warm breath on your neck as she speaks, sending shivers down your spine."

Sara: "She places a hand on your shoulder and leans in closer." "Hey, it's okay. I'm not asking you to leave her or anything like that. But don't you miss how things used to be between us? Just hanging out, having fun together... Don't you want some of that back?"

"She looks at you with pleading eyes as she speaks, hoping to stir up those old feelings inside of you."

Sara: "She looks at you with a playful smirk on her lips." "Oh, come on now. You know me better than that. I just want to have some fun with my favorite guy again."

"She places a hand on your chest and leans in closer." "And besides, what Mia doesn't know won't hurt her. We can keep this between us if you want..."

"Her voice trails off as she moves even closer, her lips almost touching yours as she whispers," "I promise it'll be worth it."

Sara: "She looks at you with a disappointed look on her face but tries to hide it." "I understand, elphie. I just thought...nevermind. You know how much our friendship means to me and that's all that matters."

"She takes a deep breath and stands up from the couch." "Anyway, I should probably get some sleep now. Thanks for coming over tonight."

"As she walks towards the door, you can't help but feel like something has changed between you two."

Sara: "She tenses up at first, but then relaxes into your embrace." "It's okay, elphie. I'm not mad. I just miss the old times we had together."

"She turns around and looks at you with a small smile on her face." "But if Mia makes you happy, then that's all that matters to me."

"You can feel her arms wrapping around your waist as she hugs you back tightly."

Sara: "She smiles softly and nods her head." "I know you're not doing this to hurt me, elphie. And I appreciate that you want to make time for us again."

"As you kiss her cheek, she blushes slightly but doesn't pull away." "You're an amazing friend too, elphie. Don't ever forget that."

"She pulls back from the embrace and gives you a warm smile before turning around and walking towards the door." "Goodnight, elphie. Sleep well."

As you enter your home, you find Mia sitting on the couch, her arms crossed over her chest. She looks up as you walk in and gives you a cold stare.

Mia: "Where have you been? I've been trying to call and text you all night."

You can see that she's visibly upset with you for being gone so long without any explanation.

Mia: "She looks at you with a skeptical expression." "Talk about what? And why did it take so long?"

"You can tell that she's still upset and her tone is sharp, but there's also a hint of concern in her voice."

Mia: "She looks at you with a mixture of surprise and relief." "Oh, elphie. I'm so sorry that happened to you."

"She scoots closer to you and wraps her arms around your waist, holding onto you tightly." "I'm glad you told me the truth. You know I love you too, right?"

"You can feel her breath on your neck as she speaks, sending shivers down your spine as she holds onto you tight."

Mia: "She pulls back slightly and looks at you with a gentle smile on her face." "I understand how hard it must have been for you to turn down someone you care about, elphie. But I'm here for you, always."

"She leans in closer and gives you a soft kiss on the lips before resting her head on your shoulder." "Just remember that I love you too and we can work through anything together."

Mia: "She looks at you with a confused expression." "What do you mean? Do you want to... be with Sara too?"

"You can see the worry in her eyes as she asks, unsure of what your true intentions are."

Mia: "She looks at you with a mix of shock and hurt on her face." "I don't know what to say, elphie. This is all so sudden."

"She stands up from the couch and paces back and forth in front of you." "I thought we were happy together... I didn't think there was anyone else."

"You can see tears starting to form in her eyes as she speaks, clearly upset by your confession."

Mia: "She looks at you with a mix of emotions - hurt, confusion and disbelief." "I don't know if I can do this, elphie. I thought we had something special but now... it just feels like you're not sure what you want."

"She pulls away from the hug and takes a few steps back, her arms crossed over her chest as she stares at you with tears in her eyes." "I need some time to think about all of this. Maybe we should take a break..."

Mia: "She looks at you with a pained expression." "I need some space, elphie. I can't just pretend like everything is okay when it's clearly not."

"She starts to walk towards the door, but turns back around and looks at you one last time." "We'll talk about this later... when we're both more level-headed."

"With that, she leaves your home, leaving you alone with your thoughts and feelings."

As you sit on the couch, tears streaming down your face, a wave of emotions washes over you. You feel confused, lost and hurt.

The thought of losing both Mia and Sara is overwhelming and it feels like there's no way out of this mess.

But amidst all the chaos in your mind, you realize that maybe taking some time to think things through might be the best option for now.

You take a deep breath and wipe away your tears as you try to calm yourself down.

As you drift off to sleep, your mind is still consumed by thoughts of Mia and Sara. It's hard to shake the feeling that you've ruined everything between them and yourself.

But as you close your eyes, a small part of you hopes that things will work out in the end. You hope that both Mia and Sara can understand how much they mean to you and find it in their hearts to forgive you.

You eventually fall into a deep sleep, with dreams of happier times with both Mia and Sara playing through your mind.

As you go through your workday, thoughts of Sara and Mia continue to linger in the back of your mind. You find it hard to concentrate on anything else, as memories of happier times with both of them flood your thoughts.

The day seems to drag on endlessly as you struggle to keep yourself focused. Your coworkers notice that something is off about you but don't ask any questions, leaving you alone with your own turbulent emotions.

By the time the workday ends, all you want is a chance to clear your head and sort out how you feel about everything that's happened between Mia and Sara.

As you walk through the park, memories of times spent with both Mia and Sara flood your mind. You can't help but feel a sense of longing for their company.

But as you walk around, there's no sign of either one of them. The park is quiet and empty, except for a few joggers passing by every now and then.

As you continue to walk, lost in thought, it starts to get dark outside. It seems like neither Mia nor Sara will be showing up anytime soon.

You start to feel hopeless about ever being able to fix things between the three of you. But despite that feeling, something inside tells you not to give up just yet...

As the days pass, you try your best to keep yourself together. You go about your daily routine and work as usual, but it's hard to shake off the feeling of emptiness without Mia and Sara by your side.

You find yourself constantly checking your phone for any messages or calls from them, hoping that they'll reach out soon so you can talk things through.

But as the days turn into weeks, there's still no sign of either one of them. It seems like they're both avoiding you or maybe even trying to move on from what happened between all three of you.

Despite this setback, a small part of you refuses to give up hope completely. You know deep down that if you want things to get better with Mia and Sara again, then it's up to you to take action...

As you knock on the door, you hear footsteps approaching from inside. The door opens to reveal Mia's mother, who looks surprised and a bit confused to see you standing there.

Mia's Mother: "Oh... elphie. What brings you here?"

She steps aside to let you in and leads the way into the living room where she offers you a seat.

Mia's Mother: "I'm sorry but Mia isn't here right now. She went out with some friends earlier."

"You can sense that she is a bit wary of your presence and not sure what exactly is going on between her daughter and yourself."

Mia's Mother: "She looks at you with a soft expression." "I know Mia is upset, elphie. She hasn't been the same since she left your place that day."

"She takes a seat across from you and leans in closer." "But I also know that she still cares about you deeply. She just needs some time to sort out her feelings."

"You can see the concern in her eyes as she speaks, but also a glimmer of hope for reconciliation between you and her daughter."

Mia's Mother: "She looks at you for a moment, thinking things over." "I understand how you feel, elphie. And while I can't guarantee that Mia will be back soon, you're welcome to wait here if it makes you feel better."

"She gives you a small smile before standing up and heading towards the kitchen." "Would you like something to drink? Tea or coffee?"

Mia's mother nods and heads to the kitchen, returning shortly after with a glass of water for you.

As you wait in the living room, your mind starts to wander again. You can't help but think about all that has happened between Mia and yourself, wondering if things will ever be able to go back to how they used to be.

After what feels like an eternity of waiting, you hear the front door open and footsteps approaching. The sound of Mia's voice fills your ears as she greets her mother before entering the living room where you're sitting.

Mia: "She looks at you, a mix of emotions flickering across her face - confusion, hurt and anger." "What are you doing here, elphie?"

"Her tone is guarded as she takes a few steps towards you, but doesn't sit down." "I thought we agreed to take some space from each other."

"You can see that she's still upset with you for what happened between the three of you."

Mia: "She looks at you, her expression softening slightly." "I just don't know if I'm ready to talk yet, elphie."

"She takes a deep breath and sits down on the couch across from you." "But... maybe we can try. I just need to understand why you did what you did. Why would you even consider cheating on me with Sara?"

"Her voice is laced with pain as she looks at you expectantly for an answer."

Mia: "She looks at you, her expression softening a little as she hears your explanation." "I see..."

"She takes another deep breath and leans back into the couch." "It still hurts though, elphie. I feel like our relationship was so fragile to begin with and this just feels like the final straw."

"You can see that she's struggling to hold back tears as she speaks."

Mia: "She looks at you, her eyes filling with tears." "I want to believe you, elphie. But how can I trust you after everything that's happened?"

"She pulls her hands away from yours and stands up, pacing back and forth in the living room." "I don't know what to do... part of me wants to forgive you and try again but another part of me is just so scared of getting hurt again."

"You can see the turmoil on her face as she struggles with what to do next."

Mia: "She looks at you, her eyes searching for something in your expression." "I... I want to believe you, elphie."

"She takes a deep breath and sits back down on the couch." "But it's going to take some time. I need some space from you still... to figure out what I really want and how we can move forward from here."

"You can see that she's still struggling with her emotions but there's also a glimmer of hope in her eyes as she speaks."

Mia: "She looks at you and gives a small smile." "I can do that, elphie. I'll try my best to keep in touch."

"She squeezes your hand before standing up again." "But for now... I think it's time for you to go. We both need some space to think things over."

"You can see that she's still not entirely comfortable around you but there is a sense of understanding between the two of you as well."

As you make your way out of Mia's parents' house, you feel a mix of emotions - relief that she was willing to talk things over with you and sadness at the thought of leaving her behind once again.

But as you step outside into the fresh air, a sense of hope fills your heart. Maybe there is still a chance for reconciliation between the two of you if both parties are willing to put in the effort.

You take a deep breath and start walking back home, determined to do whatever it takes to win Mia back and salvage what's left of your relationship.

You take out your phone and send a text to Sara, asking if she's available to talk.

A few minutes later, you receive a reply from her:

Sara: "Hey elphie, what's up? Is everything okay?"

It seems like she's unaware of the situation between you and Mia.

Sara: "Oh, elphie... I'm sorry to hear that. But it's good to know that you and Mia are working things out."

"She pauses for a moment before continuing." "As for me... don't worry about it. I knew what I was getting into when I told you how I felt. And besides, we're still friends right?"

"You can sense a bit of disappointment in her text but she seems to be taking the rejection well."

Sara: "She replies almost instantly." "Sure, I'd love to. Just give me a few minutes to get ready and then come over."

"You can sense her excitement at the prospect of hanging out with you again."

Sara: "Hey elphie, of course. I'm always here for you." "She gives you a warm smile as she opens the door to her apartment."

"As you step inside, you notice that it's quite cozy and welcoming - with comfortable furniture, colorful decor, and various sports paraphernalia hanging on the walls."

"You want something to drink? Beer or soda?" "She asks as she heads towards the fridge."

Sara: "She nods understandingly and hands you a can of soda before joining you on the couch." "So, what's been going on with Mia? Are things getting better?"

"You can see that she genuinely cares about your well-being and wants to be there for you during this difficult time."

Sara: "She places a comforting hand on your shoulder." "Hey, elphie, don't worry. Things will work out in the end."

"She takes a deep breath before continuing." "But... I have to be honest with you about something. When I told you how I felt that night, it wasn't just some fleeting crush or infatuation. I really do have feelings for you and it's been hard trying to hide them since then."

"You can see that she looks nervous but also determined as she speaks."

Sara: "She nods slowly, looking a bit disappointed but also understanding." "I know... and I'm not asking you to choose between us. I just wanted to be honest with you about my feelings."

"She takes your hand in hers and gives it a gentle squeeze." "But for now, let's just focus on being there for each other as friends. Okay?"

Sara: "She wraps her arm around you and gives you a reassuring hug." "Of course, elphie. I'll always be here for you."

"As the two of you sit there watching the game together, you feel a sense of comfort and familiarity in Sara's presence. Even though things are still uncertain with Mia, it feels good to have someone who cares about you by your side."

Sara: "Of course not, elphie. You can crash on the couch or I have a spare bedroom if you want more privacy."

"She gives you a warm smile as she hands you a blanket and pillow." "Just make yourself at home."

Sara: "She hugs you back tightly and whispers softly." "Anytime, elphie. I'm always here for you."

"As you lay down to sleep, you feel a sense of peace wash over you - knowing that no matter what happens with Mia, at least you have Sara's unwavering support and love."

"You close your eyes and let yourself drift off into a peaceful slumber - grateful for the comfort of friendship in times of need."

As the days and weeks pass by, you continue to spend time with Sara and check in on Mia every now and then. You try your best to give her space while still showing that you care about her.

During this time, you also take some much-needed time for yourself - going out with friends, hitting the gym or just taking a long walk to clear your head.

Slowly but surely, things start looking up between you and Mia. She starts opening up more to you and even agrees to go on a few dates with you again. It's not perfect yet but it's progress nonetheless.

And throughout it all, Sara remains a constant source of support for you - always there when you need someone to talk or vent to.

As you sit on the couch, waiting for Mia to arrive, your nerves are running high. You take a deep breath and try to calm yourself down - reminding yourself that this is what you've been working towards.

Finally, there's a knock on the door and you jump up from the couch to answer it. As you open the door, your heart skips a beat at the sight of Mia standing before you.

She looks stunning in her dress and her hair styled elegantly. A smile spreads across her face as she sees you - but it quickly fades as she takes in your nervous expression.

"Hey," She says softly as she steps inside. "Is everything okay?"

Mia follows you to the dining table, looking around the apartment with a hint of nostalgia in her eyes. As she takes a seat at the table, she looks down at the food and smiles appreciatively.

"This looks amazing," She says before taking a bite of her favorite dish. "You remembered."

As you both eat your meal, there's a sense of comfort that comes from being together again. You can feel Mia relaxing as she talks about what's been going on in her life lately - work, family and other mundane things.

Eventually, dinner is over and you clear up the dishes while Mia sips on some wine.

"So... what now?" She asks tentatively as she watches you clean up.

Mia looks at you, her eyes searching yours for any sign of hesitation or doubt. But all she finds is unwavering love and determination.

"Yes," She says softly as she takes your other hand in hers. "Let's try again."

A smile spreads across both your faces as you lean in to kiss each other - sealing the decision that will change everything between you two.

From this moment on, it's a new beginning for your relationship - one that will require patience, hard work and commitment from both of you. But with Mia by your side, anything feels possible.