As the upbeat tempo of a familiar song drifted through the diner speakers, Maya found herself tapping her fingers against her coffee mug. Am I ready? The words looped in her head. She had done the work. She’d spent months turning her mirrors into shrines of self-love, practicing the art of being "fine" until she actually was. "You're doing that thing again," Leo said, his voice warm. "What thing?" "The 'I'm about to run out the door' thing."
But then there was Leo—sitting across from her with a smile that felt like a question she didn't know how to answer. Lizzo - 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready) (Lyrics)
Maya felt a shift, like a gear finally clicking into place. She realized that being ready didn't mean being perfect or having no fear. It just meant being willing to find out what happened next. She reached across the table, her hand hovering for a second before finally covering his. As the upbeat tempo of a familiar song
Maya laughed, but it felt breathless. He’d caught her. Every time things felt too easy, too sweet, her internal alarm went off. How am I supposed to love somebody else when I’m still figuring out how to let them love me? She had done the work
The neon sign above the diner flickered in sync with the nervous drumbeat in Maya’s chest. For years, she’d lived by a simple rule: She knew her own strength, her own bed, and exactly how to be whole on her own.
"I'm just overthinking," Maya admitted, taking a deep breath. "Take your time," he replied. "I'm not in a rush."
