Better Than Nothing

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.