"It's not that I'm a pessimist," Laila sighed. "I've just learned that if you expect the worst, you feel much better when it doesn't happen. It's kind of like...self-reverse-psychology. Or something," she shrugged. "I don't believe you would let me die."

Then, she continued, "I'm not pessimistic at all. You really don't know what's in my mind. Please don't act like you do." She looked down at her lap. "I'm not trying to be rude, I'm just telling you that there's more to me than you think."