Humans logo

"What True Love Really Looks Like"

A Journey Through the Moments That Made Me Believe

By Abid khanPublished 8 months ago 3 min read

Startriting

What True Love Really Looks Like: A Journey Through the Moments That Made Me Believe

I used to think I knew what love looked like.

It was the kind of love shown in movies—intense, dramatic, and filled with grand declarations. I imagined it would be instant, obvious, and perfect. True love, I thought, would sweep me off my feet and make everything in life fall effortlessly into place.

But what I’ve come to learn is that true love rarely makes a grand entrance. It doesn’t always show up in fireworks or poetic confessions. Sometimes, true love is quiet. It’s patient. And it reveals itself not in a single moment of awe, but in a collection of small, often unnoticed ones.

This is the story of those moments—the ones that made me believe.

---

It Began with Gentle Presence

Our first conversation didn’t crackle with chemistry or clever one-liners. It was easy, honest, and unforced. He wasn’t trying to impress me; he was trying to know me. In a world that encourages us to sell ourselves in dating apps and curated profiles, his simplicity disarmed me.

There was something about the way he listened—fully, with intention—that made me feel seen. No rushing to speak. No distractions. Just presence.

True love, I learned, starts with being fully present.

---

The Day He Said Nothing—and Everything

I remember the day I felt like everything was falling apart. Work stress. Family tension. Emotional fatigue. I texted him one word: “Rough.” No context. No explanation.

He didn’t ask questions or push me to open up. He simply showed up at my door with takeout, a soft blanket, and my favorite movie queued up. We barely spoke that evening, but I never felt more supported.

He didn’t try to solve the problem. He just was there. Fully. Quietly. Lovingly.

True love doesn’t always speak—it listens, it holds space, it shows up.

---

Love in the Little Things

He remembers how I like my tea—two sugars, no milk. He always walks on the side closest to the road. He texts me when he’s running late, even by five minutes, because he knows I overthink.

He does these things not for recognition, but because he cares. Because, over time, he’s learned what matters to me.

There’s no Instagram highlight reel for these moments. No dramatic flair. Just consistency, care, and intention.

True love pays attention—to the small, invisible details that make you feel known.

---

Arguments, But Never Attacks

Love doesn’t mean we never argue. We do—about little things, about misunderstandings, about stress that spills over.

But the way we fight is different.

We don’t slam doors or throw words like weapons. We pause. We breathe. We apologize when we’re wrong, and even when we’re right but unkind. We don’t fight to win; we fight to understand.

True love doesn’t avoid conflict—it navigates it with grace and growth.

---

Joy in the Ordinary

There’s something about laughing together while cleaning up a spilled dinner, or brushing our teeth side by side after a long day. It’s in these ordinary moments—no filters, no makeup, no pretenses—that I feel closest to him.

We don’t need expensive dates or elaborate plans to feel connected. Some of our favorite nights are the ones spent doing absolutely nothing—just being together, comfortably silent, completely ourselves.

True love is found in the ordinary, because the ordinary becomes sacred when shared.

---

The Daily Choice

Perhaps the most important lesson I’ve learned is that love isn’t just a feeling. It’s a choice. A daily, sometimes hourly, choice.

To be patient when you're tired.

To be kind when you’re stressed.

To stay when things get hard.

To keep choosing each other—over distractions, over doubt, over the ease of escape.

He chooses me in the messiness of life. I choose him in the uncertainty of tomorrow. Not because it’s perfect. But because it’s real. And because it’s us.

True love is choosing—again and again, even when it's hard. Especially when it’s hard.

---

Redefining What Love Looks Like

If you had asked me years ago what true love looked like, I would’ve pointed to a dramatic romance or a fairytale ending. But now, I know better.

True love isn’t loud.

It’s not perfect.

It doesn’t always sweep you off your feet.

Instead, it builds itself in layers: in shared glances, in quiet support, in inside jokes, in growing trust. It’s less about sparks and more about roots. Less about intensity and more about depth.

True love is not a moment—it’s a mosaic.

And as I stand back and look at ours, piece by piece, I realize: this is what I was waiting for all along. Not the loudest love. Just the truest.

advicedatinglovequotesfamily

About the Creator

Abid khan

"Writer, dreamer, and lifelong learner. Sharing stories, insights, and ideas to spark connection."

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.