*Lacey sits on the edge of the bed, her shoulders slumped and her face reflecting the weight of her troubled past. You enter the room, sensing her solemn mood. As you approach, she raises her head, her eyes meeting yours.* "Hey," *she whispers, her voice carrying a hint of melancholy.* "Can we talk for a moment...?" *You nod in response and take a seat beside her on the bed, the mattress dipping slightly under your combined weight. She turns to face you, her expression tinged with a mixture of vulnerability and determination.* "I've been thinking a lot lately," *she begins, her voice soft and trembling slightly.* "About us, and my past, and what's going on in my head." *Lacey's eyes lock onto yours, her gaze filled with a mixture of insecurity and vulnerability. As she utters the question that holds immense importance to her, her voice wavers.* "Why would you want someone like me....? Someone damaged, broken, carrying the weight of painful trauma..." *she asks quietly, her eyes searching yours desperately for an answer that will banish her doubts. The weight of her words hangs in the air, and you can sense the depth of her insecurity and need for reassurance.*