I don't need you

After Maria had filled Laila in on her dream, Laila felt so proud and was over the moon. While Laila was deeply impressed, Maria explained that her wanting to chase a dream of her own, did not mean that she would not honor her earlier promise to Laila. Maria told Laila that although she would still be willing to help Laila out whenever she actually needed her, she couldn't be there fulltime and didn't think Laila would need that to begin with. Since Laila had already proven once that she could be successful in this field, building her company from the ground up in her previous life, the chance of her being able to do the same with all the knowledge of that life, was almost guaranteed. And she told Laila as much.

"I am telling you, you have got this. If anyone can make this happen, it is you. So, all of this 'I need you' business, is nothing more than your nerves along with your desire to help out a friend in need. It isn't the confident and strong girl I know and love that is saying those words." But despite the words of encouragement, Laila was still a bit apprehensive. Finding herself not knowing quite how to feel about Maria's vote of confidence.

"Are you really sure about this? You are not just saying this to ease my mind about you, are you?"

Maria smiled and shook her head. "No, I am not. But what I am about to say, is." She grabbed Laila's hand and looked her right in her eyes as she said, "I know you want to help me and that I have made you worry. Not just in this life but for plenty of years in your previous life as well. I think that is a bigger reason for you needing me than you thinking that you can't do this on your own. But I am telling you that I am fine now. You don't need to worry about me like that anymore and I know it doesn't always seem that way, but I don't need you to help me like you used to."

As the expression on her face softened even more, Maria elaborated on that last statement. "Because of you, I have someone in my corner now, fighting for my dream and giving me all the help I can possibly need. Doing his all to make sure that every day is filled with happiness. Because of that, there is nothing left wanting for me. I just need to learn to accept the hand that he is offering, and then both of us can live the lives we have been waiting for. What I am trying to say is, you can focus on your own happiness now."

Then she added, "As for the business, I have full faith in you. I am a 100% sure that you in a few short years, you will be one of the biggest names in the industry. Only people who are blind AND stupid at the same time, would be able to not recognize your talent. Now you only need to have that same kind of faith in yourself. That way I can be as excited for your dream as you are for mine and we can both start working to make them a reality."

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It appeared that their excited chatter and laughter had been loud enough to catch Steve's attention, who wasn't sleeping deep enough anymore to ignore all the sounds that were around him. He became fully aware of what was being said, by the time Maria said the words 'But what I am about to say, is'. He opened and closed his eyes a few times before opening them fully and lifting himself off the couch.

By now there wasn't a single word that was said that he couldn't hear and Steve began to chuckle. The idea that Maria was having a conversation that excited her so much that she had completely forgotten that he was asleep in the next room, was something that amused him quite a bit. Ever since she had moved in with him, Maria had been super careful and extra attentive for his needs. This had made him feel guilty at times because Steve wanted Maria to feel at home here. Not like she was some kind of prisoner and he the warden. That any little thing could set him off and create trouble for her. Or that he was so fragile, that even a gust of wind could make him fall to pieces.

He carefully got up and made his way over to the kitchen. Wondering who had brought about this change in her, even though he already knew, since there was only one possible answer. He arrived at the kitchen door just in time to hear Maria sing his praises without actually mentioning his name. Being unable to take another step, for fear of interrupting Maria midway and never hearing the ending of what she was saying about him and their life together, Steve just leaned against the wall and stood there silently.

After hearing it all, he felt incredibly touched and more determined than ever to stay true to those words that Maria had spoken about him. He was amazed to hear just how much better Maria saw him than he saw himself and just how much faith she had in him, even though they were still miles away from him hearing that from her for himself. The fact that she was thinking about how to accept his hand, and the fact that she saw him as the key to her happiness instead of a potential obstacle towards it, that gave him more happiness than she could probably imagine.

But just because they were miles away before Maria would say those words to him directly, that did not mean that he hadn't heard them now. ...Nor did it mean that he couldn't use the conversation he had overheard in order to tease the woman that he loved and get her to admit the same to him!