Remembering that moment when you realized your perception of love was no where close to love irl

Remember when you believed they were sweet, gentle, or funny? Remember ignoring that feeling, the one in your gut, and swapping it for an excuse Remember that confusing moment when they touched or interacted with you, and all you felt were chills instead of love? Remember the crushing realization that left you shocked, scarred, or even traumatized?


Remember?


I know I always will. After finally telling my closest friends, I was appalled to discover that they all shared similar experiences of varying degrees. That was when I realized that I should have said something sooner, because as much as I believed I was overreacting, I was actually in a silent majority. Its not uncommon, even though it should be...

A lot of people have that singular defining moment. Hell, some people even have more than one. It's so depressing that such an event exists in life - for everyone - where you are introduced to reality and forced to mature all at once. One of the best ways to get through it is to realize you are not alone.

Because of that one moment, I have no longer have such fantastical notions about my love. I have learned the red flags, and spotting them has become second nature. I have reached out to others, to point those signs out as well. Yet, I will STILL continue to participate in the idealization of love - but only for the fictional - because unlike our world, theirs has the infinite potential to treat them better.