Because if she had never acted consciously, she realized that a woman could confuse love and pity, and attach herself to a man in the hope of saving him. Or that she could see it as a challenge, convinced that she and she alone could rescue him, protect him and make him happy.
The protagonist reflects on the complexities of love and how a woman's emotions can intertwine with pity. This connection may lead her to mistakenly believe that she can save a man through her affection, mistaking her desire to help for genuine love. In such scenarios, love becomes entangled with the need to 'fix' someone, creating a confusion between healthy affection and an unhealthy savior complex.
Moreover, the realization dawns that this inclination to rescue can breed a false sense of purpose within a relationship. The woman might feel uniquely capable of resolving the man's issues, blissfully unaware that this dynamic could undermine her own well-being and the authenticity of their bond. This introspection highlights the importance of distinguishing between true love and a misguided sense of responsibility.