Imagine the most beautiful girl you
know. She's sweet, charming and just plain fun to be around. Every
day you look forward to her “Good morning” texts; you can't go to
sleep until you text her good night. The best days are the ones where
you just lounge around together, watching bad TV or talking about
everything and nothing at the same time. The best nights are the ones
when she's stretched out on your bed, dozing peacefully while you lie
next to her, wondering how anyone so perfect could possibly real.
She calls you her brother, her partner
in crime, her best friend. But she doesn't want you the way that you
want her. “I just can't see you like that,” she says. So
steadfastly, you stay by her side, consoling her when someone else
breaks her heart, listening to all her bad date stories and friend
drama. You're there for her when she can't make ends meet. When you
have to go away on business for a few weeks on a long trip, you send
her flowers and bring her souvenirs. Deep in your heart, you know you
want something more than this, but you don't want to push her away.
Sometime companionship is better than no companionship. Something is
better than nothing.
Better.
Than.
Nothing.
Better
than nothing is what a person settles for when they're tired of being
alone, sick of blind dates set up by well-meaning friends. They're
sick of online dating which feels more like some kind demeaningof
competition, like soulmate shopping rather than dating. They're over
their coupled friends dispensing unhelpful advice, or worse, saying
things like, “Man, I wish I was single again!”
Truth
is, in some ways, this kind of relationship is even worse than being
single, because you are this person's partner in everything but name,
and probably sex. This kind of relationship may last for a few a
weeks or months, but invariably you will get dumped for someones that
this person is actually into. It will feel just as bad as a breakup,
if not worse.
Whilst
you remain blinded by an unrequited soup of emotions, there is
someone waiting in the wings, watching you and wondering what the
hell your problem is. She may not be as beautiful or charming as the
object of your affection, but she's crazy about you and just wishes
you would notice her. She watches your wannabe paramour push you away
as you try harder and harder to make your way into her heart. She
wonders if she even has a chance.
Eventually
you get tired of playing second fiddle and you realise you want
something more. You crave something more than this hollow,
frustrating pseudo-relationship. You know now that you've been
settling for way less than you deserve, and you've been starving for
affection and romance that has been sorely lacking. You let go... And
fall into the arms of the one who was watching from the wings. In
that moment you have an epiphany: you deserve love, real love, not
the candy-coated frustration you been given for so long. You were
like a prisoner kept alive on bread and water... Now, her touch makes
you feel whole, and your soul is nourished.
You
realise now that when your beautiful friend was acting like she
didn't give a shit, she wasn't playing hard to get... she really
didn't give a shit. You were content to let your heart be trampled
on; you were content to be used, then thrown away like a Kleenex when
you didn't fit into her life anymore. You know now that you're
free... and you're not better than nothing anymore. You're something
to someone who adores and cares about you. Now you'll never settle
for anything less.
