The way I like to think of it is that she's in a fight with her current partner, and he or she has just accused her of being manipulative or passive-aggressive or something. She's telling this story as a way of saying, "dude, do you have any idea how much it's cost me because I wasn't willing to do those things? I could have kept the first guy I loved if I'd been willing to catfight a little, but I said no to that BS. I was on my own for years, until I found you, and that makes me even happier that I didn't compromise. So cut me some slack, okay? I might have gone wrong and hurt you, but I promise, I won't ever try to screw with you."
The way I like to think of it is that she's in a fight with her current partner, and he or she has just accused her of being manipulative or passive-aggressive or something. She's telling this story as a way of saying, "dude, do you have any idea how much it's cost me because I wasn't willing to do those things? I could have kept the first guy I loved if I'd been willing to catfight a little, but I said no to that BS. I was on my own for years, until I found you, and that makes me even happier that I didn't compromise. So cut me some slack, okay? I might have gone wrong and hurt you, but I promise, I won't ever try to screw with you."