Love Stories

t’s 2025, and let’s be honest by now, everyone and their cat knows about the Law of Attraction. “Just think about it and boom, the universe delivers.” I actually tried it once, and guess what? It kinda worked! Like the universe looked at me and went, “Alright queen, here you go, enjoy a little glow-up.”

Now I’m back, knocking on the universe’s door like, “Hi again, I’m ready! I want a whole new lifemarriage, kids, a family, maybe even a sprinkle of romantic feelings.” The only tiny little problem? I’ve got major trust issues with the opposite sex. Like, Olympic-level rejection vibes. Thanks, past trauma!

So I sit with myself and ask, “What do I really want?” Do I want a simple life where I wake up early, make breakfast for my husband and kids, wait for them to get home from school, cook something warm, help them with homework, and we live humbly ever after?

Or should I shoot for the luxury package—big house, personal assistants, iced coffee delivered to my bedside, and I don’t lift a finger unless it’s to tap ‘add to cart’? I mean, who doesn’t want that? My entire wardrobe would scream brand names louder than my inner voice.

But the thing is, both lives have perks. In the modest life, I’d get love, attention, real connection. In the luxury life, sure I’d be comfy, but I might miss out on the joy of making my kid a simple chocolate milk and watching their face light up. Because, well… someone else would probably be doing that stuff. I might not even remember which kid is in which grade.

So here I am, confused. I don’t know what to choose. And please, spare me the “Pick what’s right for you” advice—I don’t know what’s right for me! That’s literally why I’m asking.

But one thing I do know? I’ve made the decision. I’m ready to change. I’m ready to start. I’m ready to love. So dear universe, stop playing hard to get. I’m manifesting—big time.

I'll try to keep this short but, there's this girl I met at school through a friend group. We didn't talk much, just an occasional comment to one another. Then when our schedules got changed we found ourselves spending two classes together and it wasn't too bad. She was funny, interesting and unique. She had opinions that most people (including myself sometimes) didn't agree with, but I always admired the way she wasn't afraid to voice them even if others disagreed. She made me feel things. She made me feel wanted, like she actually wanted to be around me, made me feel as if being around me wasn't a chore. She always looked me in my eyes when I spoke, as if she was hanging onto to every word I said and committed it to memory. I mentioned liking apple and fruits one time and she went out of her way to get fresh farm apples. It wasn't anything special but just to know that she was thinking of me had me shocked. Most people I talk to usually forget what I tell them after an hour, but not her, she remembered everything. She once asked me to attend a field trip to a boring museum that neither of us had any interest in attending. When I told her I didn't want to go because it was boring, she said it'll be less boring because we're with each other. Naturally I started to develop what I think are feelings but I'm not sure. Were both lesbians, and she told me she always wanted another gay friend so I didn't want to make her feel weird just because I caught a baby crush. So I try to distance myself but only found myself thinking of her on my way back home every day. When summer came around she asked for my number that way we could talk and video chat. I never had many friends so maybe I'm romanticizing something very platonic. I don't think I'll ever tell her how I feel. I know I love her, but I'm really sure if that love is platonic or romantical. For now though, I wanna confess how important our friendship is to me, how deeply I appreciate her. I don't wanna ruin what we have but sometimes, late at night, I remember the way she talks to me, the way she subtlety touches me, the way she lays her head on my shoulder, and each night, my heart aches. Deep down I know I'm looking too deep especially when she has another friend who she never stops talking about, as if she loves her to her dying breath. Each time she does, I feel so overwhelmed with a jealousy that I know I have no right to feel. Perhaps I'm just young and confused?

So about 2 weeks ago my best friend found out one of the girls he was talking too was also talking to me and he also found out we had sex 2 nights prior.. So he hit me up on a friday like any other weekend and said he wanted to hang out so I invited him over. As soon as he got there i was already in my pajama pants bc it was like 8:00 at night and these pants are kinda thick bc they are like a fuzzy material (but they are no where near as thick as blue jeans which is why he caused so much damage i think) and i didnt have underwear on bc of how soft the pants were i didnt really need any but anyways, he immediately brought up the situation and I told him it wasn't that big of a deal and as soon as I said that he reached between my legs with one hand and grabbed and pulled my dick upwards and kinda twisted it leaving my balls wide open and he was really able to get a grip on it bc i wasnt wearing underwear and with his other hand he punched me in the balls 4 times it was enough force i remember it making my eyes roll back and it made me moan which was kinda strange but that was just a natural sound that came out i went to the doctor 3 days after it happened bc the swelling never went down but all the doctor said was they were going to be extremely sore for a couple weeks they are still a little swollen now and extremly sore but the girl that started all this has no idea what happened and I plan on keeping it that way lol

I honestly don’t know how to even start this but I’ll just try and let it out. So I’m 19 and I’m in my first ever real relationship with a guy (and... I am a guy too). I didn’t plan on it or whatever, it just happened and I thought it was gonna be this amazing thing, like everything would fall into place. And at first, it kinda felt that way, I guess. He made me feel seen in ways that girls never really did. Not saying girls were bad or something, it just always felt like something was missing and then when he came along, it felt like maybe that missing piece showed up. But now I’m here and I’m realizing I love him but I don’t think I love him enough to make this work. And that sucks so bad. Like, what even is “enough love”? How do you measure that? All I know is I feel like I’m constantly trying to make things feel right and they just never do.

He’s got this energy that’s just… different. Not just different from mine, I mean opposite. Like oil and water type deal. He’s loud and sarcastic and super confident in a way that sometimes makes me feel invisible or like I’m just tagging along. I’m quieter, more chill, and I don’t like all the fighting and teasing. He says I’m “too sensitive” but I don’t think that’s fair. Like yeah maybe I take things to heart but that doesn’t mean he gets to walk all over my feelings. The other night he joked in front of his friends that I’m boring and even if he said “he was just messing,” it stayed in my head for days. That kinda stuff isn’t cool to me. I told him it hurt and he just laughed and said I was being dramatic. Is that how someone’s supposed to care about you? Like seriously?

And then there’s the part of me that feels like I’m the bad one for thinking of leaving. Like, what if I never find someone again? What if this is just how it’s supposed to feel? Maybe all relationships are just about learning to deal with stuff and I’m just being selfish. But isn’t it also true that being in love should make you feel safe and supported? I’m tired of always second-guessing myself. Every time I bring up something that bothers me, he flips it on me or makes me feel guilty like I’m making things up. I’ve caught myself keeping quiet just to avoid fights. That’s not healthy, right? But then again, maybe I’m overthinking things and being picky? I mean this is my first time in something like this… maybe I just suck at relationships.

So yeah. I’m stuck. I care about him a lot, and I don’t want to hurt him, but I also feel like I’m slowly losing parts of myself trying to keep him happy. I don’t feel like he truly sees me anymore. I feel more like a background character in his life than a boyfriend. I don’t want to be someone who stays in something just because they’re scared to leave. But I also don’t want to walk away too fast and regret it. If you’ve been in this kinda situation before, what did you do? How do you know when it’s really time to break up with someone? How do you stop loving someone who isn’t really right for you?

I used to dream of having a home, a family… a life filled with love and warmth.

But now, just thinking about it makes me feel sick

love doesn’t feel beautiful anymore. It feels heavy, even disgusting.

Maybe because I’ve been through so many failed relationships.

Maybe because I once loved someone narcissistic who made me hate everything love stands for.

Maybe because I gave so much of myself to people… and got nothing back.

Now, I feel numb. Like I’ve lost the part of me that used to feel.

Sometimes my mind drifts toward physical desire, but even that feels wrong. I’m a Muslim, I’m Arab and that alone comes with its own struggle and shame 😁

So I hold myself back. Alone. Every single time.

And maybe that’s why I started resenting men — or even the idea of starting something new with anyone.

I feel lonely, yes. Deeply lonely.

But I’ve pulled away from everyone. I barely talk to people anymore. I just bury myself in work and try not to feel.

I just want to feel okay again.

I want to be normal. To be human again. Like I used to

Hey folks, so I'm 29, female, and I've got this habit of overthinking that seems to always hit the pause button on my relationships. Seriously, it's like my brain goes into overdrive the minute I'm in something good. Why can't I just chill for once? It's like I replay every word, every gesture, digging for meaning when there's often nothing more to it. You ever do that thing where you read a text, and then read it again, and again, analyzing punctuation and tone like it's some hidden code? That's me, your local overthinking expert. And it’s not just texts; throw in conversations, plans, even that awkward silence between words, and there I go spinning stories that don't exist. One moment, I'm basking in butterflies, and the next, I'm spiraling into a mental maze where no one ever wins. My therapist told me to keep things in the moment, to just breathe and see things for what they are, not what my brain decides to twist them into. Anyone else feel their overthinking is the boss of their emotions? Like, who gave it the rulebook? It's ironic; I crave the normalcy of a peaceful relationship, yet my mind insists on creating hurdles that aren’t even there. A friend once told me, "Overthinking is the art of creating problems that weren't even there." True, right? Once upon a relationship, I took forever to reply to a simple "Hey, how's your day?" because I was dissecting the subtext, ending up leaving the poor guy waiting; how do you even explain that without sounding completely bonkers? So here’s my question for the day: How do you stop? How do you teach your mind to quiet down and simply let things flow? I've tried distraction techniques, you know, keep myself busy, but it’s usually at those quiet night times that the loudest thoughts come out. I’m trying to remember what my yoga teacher said; something about "acknowledging your thoughts without judgment." It's just tough when you're your harshest critic. The whole "keep calm and carry on" motto sounds so easy until you're knee-deep in your own anxieties. Life's weird, right? Sometimes it's exciting, full of chances, only for that little voice in your head to keep saying, "But what if..." What if I'm not good enough? What if I'm bothering him? Honestly, the unknown has always been my greatest motivator to overthink. Social media doesn't help either. You see bits and pieces of other people's perfect lives, and you wonder why things aren't as picturesque for you. But let’s face it, everyone’s just posting their highlight reels. The journey to quieting my deeply chattering brain is still a long one, but I've got a toolkit of positivity ready. I’m setting boundaries with myself and learning to trust both my gut and the other person involved. Have any of you ever found comfort in writing your worries down? Journaling seems to clear my mind a little, like letting out steam so the pot doesn’t explode. And music. God, music. A good song or two really lulls the inner critic into silence occasionally—just that moment of peace. Relationships are tricky; they require learning and unlearning. It’s always a work in progress, and I'm figuring out that maybe, just maybe, it’s okay not to have all the answers straight away. The whole "be yourself" mantra should come with an appendix, mentioning that yourself is okay in its most raw, unsure form. I wonder if the key is just finding someone who mirrors the same patience and understanding that I’m striving for within myself. And hey, if you're out there overthinking like me, remember that we’re all a little messy just doing our best. Keep your chin up. Life's too short, and I'd rather be imperfectly happy than drowned in perfectly analyzed doubts. Why let fear lead when courage might bring so much more joy around the corner? Is it possible we're all just works in progress, seeking that sweet spot of calm and love without unnecessary drama? Keep going; it gets better, and who knows, maybe we'll start mastering the art of not thinking so much.

I’m 27 years old

I wish I could feel love again

The feeling of love is so beautiful

But sadly I no longer feel anything for anyone

I need to live a legendary love story that brings back my passion for life

What should I do

Especially that I don’t go out much

Hi my name is Zariah but I’d rather be called Luna..please I might be too young for this app at 11 years old but please don’t block me I have no one else to vent tok being to scared…I have loving parents and a loving grandmother who I live with..I have many friends and a trans partner but sadly they want to do suicide because of their abusive mother who tried to make them overdose…I know it’s selfish wanting to die when I have everything I need in life..but I just don’t want to live..I’m insecure about my skin..my personality…my selfishness…my body..I’m so hypersexual…I hate it..I hate everything about me..I want to die but I don’t…I just want a different life…I get judged a lot..I act crazy…I threaten people when I’m mad even tho I never mean it…I have almost 10 siblings 4 on my mothers side and 7 on my dads side I don’t want to leave my family but I don’t want to be with them neither…I want attention but I don’t want to be looked at…I want to be around people but I want to be alone…I feel pretty but I feel ugly…I feel touched and disgusting…I hate my body…I hate everything and everyone…but I still let everyone step on top of me just to satisfy them…I hate being beat up..but I love the pain…I did self harm too myself thinking it would help my grandmother understand how I feel..but she just made it worst by telling my dad and beating me up…calling me stupid and even trying to put me in a mental hospital…and honestly I want to be in a mental hospital…I want to be around people like me…crazy, insecure, weird, and stupid I want to jump but I’m too scared…I want to run away but where will I go? I feel like everyone hates me even tho they give me everything…I’m scared god is real so when I actually end up killing myself I got to hell…I want to cry but for some reason nothing will come out…I hate myself…but I love everyone else..?

hey there.... rn I feel so good lol , uk why .. okay first let me tell you that I'm a 21 years old female...and I am rn at just so calm... I feel nothing inside me... and nothing outside... not in a good or bad way..but idk why i feel like it's a temporary feeling of calm... or u can say I calmed myself through non stop dopamine hits lol ... and that's bcoz ... there's this guy online whom I talk to daily...and I feel like omg I'm so obsessed with him.. with his voice..with his questions...with his banters... with him teasing me indirectly through questions lol...ughhh why it feels so good lol....I'm really obsessed with him...like I continuously check for his texts lol ... like yesterday we talked for about whole night...and slept in the morning lol...I'm really more in comfort talking to him rather than having sleep of 7 hours lol... which I can take later...sorry world I don't wanna hear ur advices for my health...I already know it lol... but I love this feeling lol... no we're not bf gf... but we just love talking to each other so much ...it gives us so much peace in the whole day lol...and today lol he slept at 2 am... so I was like why lol...ik lol that it's wrong to think that...both of our sleeps are imp.....ahhhh but I already miss him so much lol....this feeling god....I feel a new calm inside me.... like I don't feel like talking to anybody else online... I don't feel like watching a movie or any entertaining content....but I do want to so something else lol.... but ngl he's always on my mind lol.. can't do anything...when I get his text or vm ... ahh that dopamine hit lol....

idc what the world says that I'm distracted or anything.... cuz I love this feeling even if it's temporary lol..I already know that ur gonna say I'm distracted.... but this introvert girl got so much open to him lol about her life....that now there's a new confidence inside me lol...I love our talks really...I always miss him... don't judge me lol.... but this is what I feel rn lol

And chill ik the stuff that ur gonna say that focus on urself... don't fall for this temporary dopamine hit... don't get distracted ...

But hey world listen I'm obsessed to him can't do anything rn lol... just love this feeling lol...

so, last night, I was at this party, ya know, just chilling with the crew, and boom, there's this girl. caught my eye immediately. we start chatting, she's like really into me, or at least that's the vibe I was getting. maybe it's just my mind playing games, but she was laughing at all my dumb jokes. that's gotta mean something, right? 🤷‍♂️ but of course, there's that part of me wondering if I imagined the whole thing. who knows, maybe she was just being polite or whatever.

now I'm sitting here, phone in hand, wondering if I should text her. like, is it too soon? everyone says there's this unwritten rule about waiting a couple of days, but like, who even cares about that anymore? screw it, just go for it. but then I think, what if I come off too eager or desperate or something? sounds dumb, but isn't that the kind of stuff that makes someone ghost you real quick? honestly, dating these days feels like walking on eggshells sometimes. 😒

we did hit it off, so it only makes sense to reach out, right? but doubt creeps in, like what if she's just forgotten about the whole thing? maybe she met ten other guys last night and I'm just a random face in her memory now. talk about a blow to my confidence. yet I keep going back to, she was seriously into our convo, so how could she just forget? 🤔 kinda feels like playing mental chess with myself. "dude, just shoot your shot," echoes in my mind, but easier said than done.

I remember something I heard once: "fortune favors the bold," but what if that's just some crap people say to get you to do stupid stuff? gotta admit, there's a thrill in taking action, but getting slapped with reality ain't fun either. texting her could mean making her day or just finding out she ain't really into it. better than not knowing, right? but man, the idea of staring at my phone, waiting for those dots or a non-reply, is brutal.

so, here I am, caught in this limbo, overanalyzing as usual. seems simple, just text her, ask how she's doing. casual. yet, kinda feels like walking into a minefield. not exactly a big deal in the grand scheme, but when you're 17, these things seem bigger. any thoughts, anyone? 💬 ever been in the same boat, trying to decode what’s right or how not to screw up? any advice before I hit send? maybe i’m just overthinking all this, but a push, one way or another, might just settle the madness.

I want friends so badly, it drives me insane. I have 3 friends but I only consider one to be an actual friend, because the others are assholes. I can’t hang out with my friend often because they live about 30 minutes from me and they go to school while I’m homeschooled. I have bad anxiety so I’m not good at talking to people at all unless I know them, It’s so bad that I can’t even talk to people online to try and make friends because I get too scared and worried. I want to make more friends that live close by so I can hang out more often and just have someone to go out with.

I want to go out more and get out of the house, but I don’t go out alone because of my own experiences with creepy men and pedophiles. It’s not that I want some just to have with me, but I want someone who I can connect deeply with bf not have to think about how and when to drive 30 mins to get there or whatever.

I want to make friends in my area, but everyone my age in my area are just assholes, which was one of the reasons I went into homeschool other than anxiety.

I have this deep feeling inside me like I just want to be held and loved, just to be with someone and feel safe and cared about with. I don’t know if I’m ready to get into another relationship yet since I just got out of a year long distance relationship about a month ago. I just crave touch and affection, but also that level of friendship where I’m comfortable enough to be myself.

I always get jealous seeing people out with friend groups and talking about their friend groups, I know how fun it is to be in friendgroups since I used to be in one a few years ago. I want that feeling again. I don’t know how to explain it but I just feel lonely.

Sure, I have my family, but they just make me feel more alone. My grandma always talks about how I barely have friends and need more, when I’m upset bc my friend did something my dad just tells me everyone is assholes and I need to learn that, my little sister makes fun of me for barely having friends. I just can’t handle it anymore. I’ve thought about suicide and running away, but it wouldn’t help.

For years I have just been wanting that feeling that I know I’m safe with someone for who I am and that I’m loved

I'm feeling really confused at this point. What are we? WHAT ARE WE??? We exchange pictures, give each other words of affirmation, and are open and vulnerable with one another. What's worse is that he sees me as a friend. I'm his FRIEND. I don't necessarily want to be his girlfriend or anything—I'm sure neither of us is ready for that—and he doesn't view me that way. But AGHHHHHH! You can't say, "You're like a flower that hasn't bloomed. You just haven't had room to reach your full potential," and then follow it up with, "Love you too, buddy 🤍🤍." The white hearts indicate platonic love. He does send me red hearts too, but not as often as the white ones. He told me that I had restored his faith in humanity since we met, and that he had stopped looking for someone else. WHAT. WHAT. WHAT.

I want to be in a relationship with him, but I'm not ready, and it's not possible for us right now. Yet, does he really not have feelings for me at all? He mentioned that he can't really feel romantic emotions. I understand that, but it feels contradictory given everything he just told me. Help please.

So I’ve posted about dropping my ex entirely and now that I’ve actually been trying to detach myself and eventually drop him, I’m still finding it hard. He’s treated me horribly but I’ve felt myself pitying him and I felt bad for him because of the things I’ve learned. The guy he used to date and still has feelings for id bet, doesn’t even like him as a friend anymore. Me and him (we are friends) were talking about our mutual ex and he even told me that he wishes I got out of that situation earlier because he knows what he’s like. But something about him losing everyone he cares about, makes me feel bad bc he’s running to me. But I know that it’s out of loneliness, not because he cares about me. Before anyone says I should ask him and be more understanding and compassionate towards him, he has assaulted me, taken shit out on me for situations that weren’t my fault, talked shit about me and was dumb enough to expose it, and left me during one of the worst times of my life. And yet I’m struggling to take the final step and block him and remove him for good.

I never thought I’d be one of those women who stayed. You know the type—rational, self-aware, educated, and yet still somehow stuck between what they should do and what they feel. When I found out my boyfriend had cheated on me, the emotional whiplash was debilitating. I remember staring at his face while he denied everything, even as the proof was right there, practically screaming from the screen. Later, he admitted to more than just the affair: he'd lied about past relationships, finances, even seemingly mundane details like where he was on certain weekends. Those small lies somehow hurt more than the big one. I kept wondering, “Was anything real?” He told me he lied because he didn’t want to lose me—ironic, considering the lies are the reason I can’t look at him the same. People talk about “rebuilding trust” like it’s some Ikea bookshelf. Just tighten a few screws, follow the instructions, and voilà. but trust isn’t a piece of furniture; it’s this fragile, complex web that once broken, doesn’t reassemble so neatly. And when it’s been shattered more than once, even the idea of rebuilding feels insulting.

There’s also this paradox no one talks about: in order to rebuild trust, you have to offer vulnerability—the very thing that got you hurt in the first place. I’ve asked myself if I even want to trust him again. Do I want to open myself up to more manipulation, or am I just addicted to the comfort of familiarity? There are days when I almost convince myself it was just a mistake, a temporary lapse in judgment. Then I remember the months of gaslighting, the “you’re crazy” looks, the weaponized silence. My therapist calls it trauma bonding. It’s the cycle of abuse disguised as affection, and yes, it’s real. We’ve had endless conversations about boundaries, accountability, and what it means to earn back trust. He says all the right things now: that he’ll be transparent, that he understands why I question everything, that he wants to do the work. But how do you quantify “doing the work”? Is checking in regularly and sharing phone passwords enough? Or is it something deeper, more intangible? Sometimes I catch myself analyzing his tone, his pauses, the exact wording of his apologies. I’m exhausted by my own hypervigilance, and it makes me feel like I’m the one who’s broken.

The hardest part is that I haven’t left—yet. Part of me still believes in redemption, in growth, in the idea that people can change if they truly want to. But then I think, should the burden of his growth be placed on the ruins of my trust? The foundation is cracked; no matter how well you paint over it, the instability is still there. And I don’t want to live in a metaphorical house that could collapse any second. He keeps asking, “What can I do to prove it to you?” and I never know how to answer. Is it even my job to provide a checklist for redemption? Or is that another form of emotional labor I never signed up for? I’ve become someone I don’t recognize—calculated, cautious, and constantly second-guessing my instincts. I used to believe in open-hearted love, the kind where you dive in headfirst without checking the depth. now I keep one foot out of the water, scanning for sharks. Maybe you’ve been there too. If so, tell me—how do you unlearn distrust without betraying your own sense of self?

i hate that i still think about him every damn day. like seriously, what the actual hell is wrong with me?? it’s been almost a year now, and yet my brain still plays back the same damn memories like a broken-ass record. we broke up for good reasons—he was selfish, emotionally unavailable, and let’s be real, kinda manipulative—but here i am, stuck on this dude like he was the love of my damn life. i know better!! i tell myself all the time that it’s not love anymore, it’s just habit, it’s just comfort, blah blah blah, but none of that seems to help when i see something that reminds me of him and i instantly feel like shit. and what pisses me off the most is that he’s probably doing great, not even sparing me a single thought, while i’m out here spiraling over some random t-shirt he left at my place or that stupid playlist we used to drive around to. 😒

i’ve tried everything. blocking him didn’t help, just made me feel more pathetic because i still checked his socials through a fake account. going out with friends works... for like five minutes until someone mentions his name or something vaguely related and boom, my brain’s back in hell. even dated other guys and guess what? they all felt like filler characters in a story that’s already ended. like i was just going through the motions. one of them even told me i wasn’t really present and yeah, no shit dude. i’m trying but it’s like i’m stuck in emotional cement. and don’t get me wrong, i don’t miss how he made me feel like i was never enough or the stupid games he played when he was “too busy” to call. i miss the small, dumb shit like how he always brought me red bull without asking or how he said my name when he was half asleep. isn’t that just sick?? how can i know someone’s bad for me and still crave their attention like some love-starved idiot???

so yeah, tell me this—why the f*ck can’t i get over him?? is there some switch i forgot to flip? am i broken or just brainwashed from being treated like trash for so long that now i think it’s the norm? i try to analyze it, journal it, scream it into a pillow, and nothing changes. maybe i’m just terrified that no one else will get me the way he did... even if the “getting me” part came with a truckload of emotional damage. maybe it’s not really about him at all, maybe it’s about how i felt when i was with him—like i mattered, like someone chose me, even if he dropped me just as quick. i don’t know. all i know is this mess inside my chest won’t go away and i’m tired of pretending like i’m fine. if you’ve been through this—how the hell did you finally let go??? 💔