Heartbeat

How do you know they’re the one? What drives the urge to be forward and strike up a conversation? Is that even what you do, or are people just bold enough to be direct? I feel as if I watched others have these intimate connections while I sat on the sidelines. Part of it was by choice, but there was always a small urge that wanted me to finally go for it and live a little. So, my question to you as the reader is, how? How do I know when a person is worth the time? What is the force that keeps you going back to your person? How did you meet? What solidified that loyalty? I want to believe that there’s more to it than just standard “hookup culture,” or that no one is worth the effort. I want more than a silly little crush–which might sound ambitious considering my lack of experience–but I want to know it’s worth putting myself out there before jumping straight in. Maybe the answer is simple and I can’t see it, or maybe it’s impossible to sum up with one word. I would hope it’s the second. Love is supposed to be conceived as this broad statement that can apply to any relationship, but it can’t be perfect. It is messy, it is hard, it is joyful, it is sad, it is hurtful, and it is wonderful. However, what I am more focused on is it coming from experience rather than what it’s branded as. Details of all the good and the bad, the struggle and the triumph. But, before focusing on me, I want to hear from you. How do you know what love is?