Hawke listens. She already suspects he's talking about Elektra from observation earlier in their conversation, but she's not going to let her own thoughts on Elektra get in the way. Everyone has their shit. This is Matt expressing his. She is listening to him right now, with her full attention.

"I doubt she would consider herself your caretaker." Because it wasn't a very attractive concept. "Have you thought about not going backward, but forward? Not trying to be who you were before, because you've both changed and that's how life goes, but finding out the people you are now." Hawke thinks there's no point to trying to hold onto the past forever. She may still blame the things from the past on her, but that's to learn lessons. Not get in the way of love. "If you change together, and put all your shite on the table, it could work."

That last bit though. That is a very real fear. "You could, and that's terrible, but so is not having her with you when this is your only chance."