perhaps there had been a sad part inside of me that had secretly been judging all these couples around me because i didn’t think they were experiencing something extraordinary: crossing the world, showing up in the pouring rain, those cinematic moments that make me high off the thrill. life couldn’t always be rooftops of shopping malls, always the sun rising and the right songs, electric touch and melon drop. no — perhaps they knew something that i didn’t: that those moments come and go, ebb and flow, circle back. perhaps they knew what i didn’t: the romance is in the showing up, yes. but the love is in the staying. in looking at someone and seeing the bigger picture even if the present is not immediately gratifying. choosing someone to grow with. and could that be it? as simple as making that choice: i will go with you, let’s go together that hard way.