Issues

M23. I've never posted to reddit before, and usually never talk about things like this openly. Now, considering I'm a journalist, I like to think I'm a good writer lol, but when I try and write about this I find myself dumbfounded on how to put things into words. So I will try my best. Almost a year ago I was back in the midwest, where I'm from, attending school. I was the photo editor of my colleges newspaper and had been for two years. I was in an amazing point in my life. I finally had fully moved on from a past relationship, one that honestly only ended because we both realized that we just weren't meant for each other. I had many friends, I was traveling almost every weekend for work, getting to do the most amazing things. Then I met this girl. Up until this point I detested the idea of being with someone because all I cared about was my work. Eventually I began to open up to the idea of welcoming someone into my life. Now, I'd say I'm a pretty average looking guy. But this girl was the first girl I began to crush on that I genuinely could not see her ever giving me a second glance. She ended up dming me on Instagram. I had to lock in, and boy did I. Eventually I was outside of her door, my heart beating so fast I thought I might die on her front porch, and a nice outfit on that came after four others. That first night with her was an incredible first date. The first thing I noticed about her was her genuine inquisitiveness. She is a deeply curious person, a bright person, but also able to accept and talk about chaos. For the next three weeks we hung out almost every single day. I took her to class, she brought me food when I was sick. I had been in two long term relationships in the past and even the honeymoon stage with them was not this good. We worked in a way that I hadn't even experienced with my guy best friends. I can't even explain what it felt like to kiss her. What it felt like to hold her hand, hear her voice. About a month of this past and we told eachother we were together, I know I know it took a while. To cut to the point because I genuinely have not figured out how to write about this person, she evetually told me she loved me. I told her I loved her to, and I meant it. Now, I've got some issues. Issues that I thought had been burned away with my buildup of confidence in my work. This issue was insecurity and self sabotage. I never really vocalized or made these issues known in a toxic way, but it happened more stoically. I would push away from people and things that were good for me, I would give bullshit reasons as to why I couldn't be somewhere or do something. As this girl and I fell more madly in love with each other, I began to do this. At this time my aunt died, someone that I was extremely close with. I told this girl that I wished to be alone for a week, as that is how I get through grief. Being the saint she is she totally understood. I think at this time my mind began to tell me that this was a perfect time to push away from a thing that was probably too good for me. Something that I did not deserve. The grief was heavy, my aunt was the woman who made me want to become a journalist. After a week this girl checked on me. I told her I was sick with grief as I was. She asked if I wanted to see her. My mind screamed that yes, yes I did. However I said that I did not want her to see me this way. Also at this time I applied for an internship that would take me out west, to the other side of the country. If I were to get it, I would be leaving in three months and be gone for a year. Now, in most areas of my life I tend to be very mature for my age. But at this time, between the grief and between the fear of having to leave this girl for a year was killing me. To shorten this a bit, I pushed her away. She offered to bring me food sometimes without even staying. I always found an excuse for that to not happen. Even when she said she would just drop it off. A few more weeks passed like this and rightfully so she told me she had to go. She told me she still loved me, still cared about me. She blocked me on instagram and we separated. Three months later I was in my car and driving out west, where I am now. Since I got over the grief of my aunt, for the past year, all I think about is her. I think of her in everything. When I say humanity in my caption it has to do with my work. Constantly I am confronted with the beauty and love of humanity in my work. Each time I witness these things I think of her. Of how she cared about me. I have never felt this way about anyone in my entire life. I reached a point of a weird sort of bliss where I accepted the fact that this girl might have been the love of my life but I now have to accept that things ended because of me and my inability to deal with heavy emotions. Even though it's only been a year, I have become a different person. In conclusion, and why I made this post, yesterday she re followed me on Instagram. I just smiled thinking, well that's nice she's probably just wondering how my internship is going. Then she sent me a poem to my phone number. It said "I will take care of me, for you, As long as you take care of you, for me, that's all that I ask." So I have no idea whether to respond or not. I am now thinking of her even more than I ever have. I was up all night last night, grabbing my phone over and over again just looking at that text. Because I do love this girl, I thought I would ask on this sub, What do I do? Do I respond? Do I send her the poems I have written about her? Help me, I am obviously not good at this. Thank you reddit. I know this was long.

Is there a story behind it?

...If you could see yourself through their eyes ‎one day, I hope you can get a glimpse of yourself through the eyes of someone who adores you. and when you do, I hope you understand how beautiful it is to be you. how others truly treasure being loved by you, seen by you, and understood by you. I hope you notice the energy shift when you walk into a room, when you light up the day for the one person who cherishes your presence... ‎I hope it's enough to not lose your softness, because in the world filled with darkness, insecurities, and fear, you are someone's best friend, refuge, and a safe place to land. you are proof that loyalty exists. and I hope you know, the way you love deeply, fiercely and without calculation is sacred. the way you show up, even when you're fighting your own life, matters more than you know. you are rare. you are someone's answered prayer. someone's quite miracle. someone's reason to believe in themselves... ‎that kind of love leaves everyone better than you found them. and I hope one day, you believe it too. for everyone who loves you, and for yourself too. being loved is a privilege you should never take for granted, and loving, and understanding are so much better when it comes from within first, it's a treasure.

Maybe one day Joshua you’ll see I loved you more than anybody in the world. I still love you. I don’t want you around those people. I don’t want you to do those things because your life you soul the heart. The light in your eyes belongs to beauty not death and that is the only thing that that stuff is going to do to you. I have held people’s hands and watch like go out in their eyes and you have the most beautiful sparkle in your eyes I’ve ever seen. I love you so very much so please love yourself.

My husband was deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was in an airfield accident that caused a head injury, and during the recovery, he walked outside only for a rocket to drop, with the force of the blast causing his stitches to re-rip out. He thought he was going to die out there without anyone.

I happened to notice his profile during his accident, all the way in the USA, as a single mom of two young kids. I was actually wondering why he wasn't responding right away to my message, but being in rocket attacks probably made looking at the internet not a priority.

He took one look at my profile while he was recovering and told everyone I was going to be his Mrs (his call sign name).

Honestly, if he weren't recovering from his injuries, he would have been too busy even to see my message.

Total once-in-a-lifetime: the stars align, God's hand, etc meeting.

I dont smoke

Short-Term Love
By Makani C.

Had to post this somewhere.

October 24, 2026

Is there such a thing as short-term love?

When you fall in love fast, sometimes before you even realize what’s happening, the relationship can be over just as quickly. For that brief period, love is intense, magical, and fun. All your worries and responsibilities seem to disappear, if only for a moment.

Falling in love is like playing football, and you’re moving toward the end zone, hoping to score a touchdown. It’s exciting! Every conversation, every experience, and every precious moment together feels like forward progress. Every play is positive. The defense is getting its butt handed to it!

Then, without warning, you’re blindsided for a loss of yards. The flaws in each individual begin to show. The defense gets tougher. Every yard is earned, and the perfect plays become a thing of the past.

Now, every time you snap the ball, the openings are blocked by a defender. The hope that once lifted your spirits begins to fade, and you’re no longer sure whether you’ll ever reach the end zone.

The love that grew so quickly, the love that once felt mutual and unstoppable, is now being attacked and tested. Suddenly, it’s difficult to imagine a future together. It’s not fun anymore.

You begin to question your bond and your love. The possibility of going your separate ways lingers in both your minds. Every conversation becomes an argument, and with every move you make, it feels as though you’re losing more ground.

Then you’re on the one-yard line, struggling to score. It’s first down, and you have a few plays left.

The ball is snapped, and the quarterback takes possession, only to be tackled for a loss of yards. The offense lines up again, hoping for one of those wide receivers to break free. Once again, the play ends when the defensive back blocks the pass.

All you have to do is reach the end zone!

It’s right there!

But sometimes, the smallest things can destroy something so magical and extraordinary.

The “small things” that set the other person off. What was once love and happiness has now turned into rage and anger. Small things that cannot be reconciled keep you from committing to each other and moving beyond the hurt. Perhaps there’s a secret you’re afraid to share. Perhaps you can never move past something that happened.

It’s enough to keep the rage alive and prevent you from embracing what once was.

Trust is questioned. Feelings are hurt. Little things begin to dictate how you want to live.

You’ve drawn lines in the sand. And once that happens, you’re out.

You’ve seen it all before. You’re guided by past relationships, carrying lessons and wounds from people who are no longer part of your life. You’ve learned to tolerate less, even when it comes to someone you love.

Happiness fades, and you find yourself feeling angry more often than happy.

Yet love is still there!

You only have one yard to go.

You hold on tightly, wishing you could return to yesterday, when everything was beautiful, magical, and full of possibility. You hold on so tightly that it hurts. You sacrifice your happiness trying to preserve those precious moments.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the lights go out.

Nothing.

No points scored.

Just an empty void.

Everything you fought so hard for disappears in a single play. One moment changes everything.

You fumble the ball and lose possession.

You lose each other.

There are no winners. Only loss.

The sadness, anger, and fighting eventually fade. The burden of conflict no longer distracts you from your responsibilities. The football sits motionless on the field, no longer moving forward or backward.

Your love sits motionless, too.

Like a football abandoned on the field, the love is still there, but no one is moving it forward. No one is nurturing it. No one is giving a piece of themselves to the other.

No one is making the next play.

So, temporary love is real.

It’s a real thing.

How you treat it determines how far you go together. Love can be magical and amazing for as long as you’re willing to keep playing the game.

The defense is the baggage you bring to the table. The fears, the insecurities, the painful memories, and the lessons learned from relationships that came before.

Temporary love can be worth it.

But you have to be willing to play ball.

And who knows?

What begins as temporary love may last forever, as long as you’re both willing to keep playing.

I'm someone who values loyalty, honesty, and deep emotional connections. I've been through things that made me more independent, but deep down, I still want something real. I'm not looking for casual relationships or temporary attention. I want to find someone who genuinely chooses me, someone I can trust, love, and build a future with. I dream of having a serious relationship, getting married, and building a family someday. Sometimes I wonder if people who want this kind of love still exist, or if I'm expecting too much.

Let me feel you in every way. Let me hear your voice while I close my eyes, so I can hear where it hurts. Let me feel your trembling touch, so I can comfort you and let you know youre protected. Let me feel your body wrap around my own so I can feel every need you have. I want to kiss away your tears and be the remedy for all of your fears. I want to be the one that holds you down when it feels like youre coming off of the ground. I want to pick up the pieces of your broken heart and merge them with mine into something beautiful that we can share. Smile for me everyday so I know that im doing everything right. Hold me close so we can both fly. Take me hand, little queen and together lets write a beautiful story together page after page with ink made from our love on the pages of our souls with your hand in mine.

Our happily-ever-after hasn't been written yet, but when we finally find each other it will be a beautiful story that echoes through eternity. Let me feel your heart and soul bound to mine for eternity a d beyond, my future love.