Do You Still Believe in Love?

I was asked, the other day

Gaia Kriscak
Human Parts
Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash

“Do you still stand by your idea of romantic love?” I was asked the other day.

What an odd thing to ask. So specific. So to the point. I wasn’t expecting it, I stumbled, forgot to breathe.

“Yes and no,” I replied, taking a deep breath, finally.

“I believe love exists, but there’s more to it. I base my assumption on the happy couples I know. Take my folks, for example — all four of them. They love each other, sure, but the thing that, I believe, makes them progress and last as couples is love shapeshifting into a number of things. Friendship, respect, intimacy, but most of all, companionship. There’s a certain approach to love that I’ve noticed works.
The approach that I’ve noticed is, in simple terms: ‘I can disagree with you, you get on my nerves, but I love you, and I want to be with you’. There’s a solid base of love beneath all the rest. It’s as simple as that.” I said, shifting in my chair, feeling uncomfortable and vulnerable, even though I hadn’t said anything revolutionary.

Why did I feel that way? I asked myself later on that day, crying as I was walking home.

“I’ve exposed what I want.” That’s got to be scary, I recognized.

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