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It was around noon, and the sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the villa. Maia was lounging by the pool, enjoying a rare moment of quiet, when Daniella approached with a hesitant expression. Her steps were slow, and she held her arms tightly around herself as if seeking comfort. Maia instantly noticed the pained look in her friend's eyes. She straightened up, concern already etching across her face.
"Hey," Daniella said softly, her voice wavering slightly. "Can I pull you for a chat?"
"Of course," Maia replied without hesitation, getting up and guiding Daniella toward one of the cozy seating areas tucked away in a corner of the villa. As they settled down on the cushions, Maia took a closer look at Daniella's face. There was a sadness there, but also something deeper—a hint of defeat that made Maia's heart ache.
Daniella took a shaky breath and glanced down, fiddling with her fingers for a moment. "Rob just ended things," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. She bit her lip as if trying to hold back tears, her gaze dropping to the ground. "And... that makes two people now who have made me feel like I'm not good enough."
The words hung in the air between them, heavy with a pain that Maia recognized all too well. She reached out and took Daniella's hand in hers, squeezing it gently. "I'm so sorry," Maia said, her voice soft and full of empathy. "You don't deserve to feel that way, Daniella. Not ever."
Daniella let out a quiet, bitter laugh, shaking her head. "I just... I don't get it, Maia. I thought we were doing fine, you know? And then he suddenly says he doesn't see a future with me, that it's just not clicking the way he thought it would." She looked up, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. "And before him, there was someone else who made me feel the same way—like I wasn't enough for them, either."
Maia's heart ached for her friend. She could see how much this was hurting Daniella, the way it chipped away at her confidence. She reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from Daniella's face, her touch gentle and reassuring. "Listen to me," she said, her voice steady. "The way Rob or anyone else has treated you has nothing to do with your worth. You are more than enough, and if he couldn't see that, then that's his loss, not yours."
Daniella's lip trembled as she looked at Maia, a tear slipping down her cheek. "But it just feels like... like it keeps happening, you know? Like there's something wrong with me, something that keeps pushing people away."
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with you," Maia said firmly, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "You are kind, beautiful, and one of the most genuine people I know. If someone can't appreciate that, then they're the ones missing out on something amazing. You deserve someone who sees your worth without you having to prove it to them."
Daniella sniffled, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "I just thought... maybe this time would be different. But now I feel like I'm back at square one, questioning everything about myself."
