Love?

Love. What is love? I’ve had many iterations of the definition. What love is to me now is far removed from what I originally thought it to be. At first, love was a consistent feeling, and when it disappeared, you no longer loved the person. Then love became a feeling and a choice. You bled for love until there was no blood left; nothing to give or fix. The first iteration has no stipulations; as long as I felt love, then I loved you. Then conditions started creeping in, and love became more of a chore. Now, my definition is once there is love, it never leaves. It just… changes. Morphs into something new. You will always love that 15-year-old kid or the other who had to leave at the end of their internship. The love transforms into forever care. Untainted. Unselfish. Unpossessive. You wish the best for the ones you love, and there is no need to be the reason for their happiness. Just the fact that they are alive and trying to move through the world as you are is enough. They are enough just as they are. It doesn’t mean that the version they are is meant to be with you. People grow at different paces, and it is their choice if they want to reach their potential. This sentiment reminds me of the anime “Fruits Basket,” where Tohru told Kyo that each person had a plum on their back. A plum they can’t see, but others can. We can see the potential in other people, but even if you show them there are stars to reach, it doesn’t mean they will grab the opportunity. Change is scary because you risk falling into the unknown, even if people are there to catch you. Now.. What is love? Love isn’t just a feeling; it’s energy created that never dies and transforms. Untainted. Unselfish. Unpossessive. You can still love someone even if you’re no longer together or they’re no longer alive. Love is everlasting.