What if that person has nothing else? What if they have no future to look forward to? What if the small compliments are all that keeps them from hating themselves? What if they can't cook or weave or do anything because they've been treated like a tool their whole life and the hope of falling in love with someone that will save them from all that is the only thing that can make their horrible life bearable!?

[Her sobs take on a renewed force, and if he was wondering if she was speaking from her own experiences? That's confirmed with the next thing she says. A single sentance whispered so quietly she likely doesn't even realize she said it out loud.]

The labs weren't even that hopeless...