22 Comments
User's avatar
liv's avatar

so this makes me question, is love only love when it’s returned?

Expand full comment
Jia's avatar
Apr 29Edited

In my mind, love doesn’t lose its truth just because it isn’t returned. Unreciprocated love is still real—it reflects our capacity to reach beyond ourselves, to offer something vulnerable and honest. But love that IS returned becomes something else entirely...it's a shared language, a mutual choosing. So no, love isn’t only love when it’s returned—but returned love is what transforms longing into relationship.

Expand full comment
Kiara Hart's avatar

you have no. clue. how much i needed this. thank you, thank you.

Expand full comment
Jia's avatar

This is the kind of connection I quietly hope for when I write. Thank YOU, truly, for allowing my words to be part of your moment—it’s a gift I don’t take lightly. Take care <3

Expand full comment
kris's avatar

This is beautiful and perfectly encapsulates the internal conflict I’ve been experiencing lately as my partner and I are growing apart. Thank you for writing this, it has given me the closure that I need.

Expand full comment
Sara Kay's avatar

This is truly one of my favorite things I've ever read! As I am healing anxious attachment, but still trying to stay sensitive to the fact that... I ... love, love - I felt seen and a lot less alone. This is so well written! Kudos kudos!

Expand full comment
Jia's avatar
Apr 29Edited

thank you🫠

Expand full comment
Angie's avatar

Honestly YELLED at the “The Guilt of Wanting More” section, to see what I’ve been thinking through written so clearly and shared?! I love it thank you for posting

Expand full comment
Bougie Hippie's avatar

🖤 That meeting—that reciprocity—is not a flaw in love. It is love, fulfilled.

Expand full comment
nico's avatar

i love this!!! you grasped everything perfectly :)

Expand full comment
ipxnney's avatar

This was so beautifully put, you truly encapsulated this whole concept. I sometimes struggle with this very thing and i LOVE that you’ve written it so well. I feel seen ☹️🫶🏼

Expand full comment
Jia's avatar

im sorry you’ve been struggling :( sending u love🫶🏽

Expand full comment
t.L's avatar

Amazingly written! I feel seen. <3

Expand full comment
kailan's avatar

I loved this so much you are a beautiful writer.

Expand full comment
Jia's avatar

aw thank you🤗

Expand full comment
taerukook's avatar

i love the before sunrise and 500days of summer references, not only because those are the good movies, but also makes total sense and really unfolds your idea

Expand full comment
nooorbibii's avatar

But what if love returns, and stays.. but doesn't stays for too long. Isn't it harder to let that love go? The love in which you both shared a language, the language you both spoke to each other, and now they don't understand that language anymore...

Expand full comment
Deinbo Koko's avatar

This is truly resonating. When ever you feel this way its a good turn to go to the bible too and we'll see same in 2 Timothy 1:7

Expand full comment
Stonewall's avatar

I’ve literally *just* finished an in depth study of love that explicitly, directly addresses this question. I think you might find it helpful: https://open.substack.com/pub/stonewall757/p/munay-love?r=5fwygn&utm_medium=ios

Expand full comment
kari's avatar

im gonna hate myself for admitting this because i know better than this thinking but receiving less love feels sooo so insulting. thank you for writing.

Expand full comment