A question on how to word an emotion and how one wants the message to be perceived?

She’s defiant. And trying to make it seem as if she is strong and not really that bothered, but her just saying that she doesn’t want him to control her contradicts her in the sense that she is bothered by it.

She’s trying to use the power of positive thinking. If she doesn’t say she’s afraid, maybe, eventually, she won’t be.

She’s echoing someone else’s words. People have been telling her that as long as she is still afraid of him, he has power over her; that’s common self-help wisdom of the sort that people love to repeat She has not yet succeeded in defeating the fear, but at least she is working on denying him the power.

So you are right, I think, in inferring that she’s still afraid of him; but there’s also the implication that she is trying to overcome her fear.

Well… the previous respondents may be entirely correct, and I’m wrong, but I read this a bit differently. She’s properly ‘respectful’ and ‘alert’ and ‘concerned’ about what the guy may do, and though she may simply be covering up a fear, if I take her at her word she’s not ‘really’ feeling fear, but she knows that she could be.

Fear is a debilitating emotion. Defiance (I liked that one) and the attitudes I mentioned are more ‘enabling’, helping her to improve her situation in whatever way she can.

She knows how dangerous he can be and is concerned for her safety but isn’t going to allow her fears and concerns to control her life. ”...and I don’t want that.” To me she is admitting she is afraid but knows she is stronger than him. To me, she is clarifying instead of just answering yes or no.

Thanks to all of you!
Interesting to see different observations.