When I Gave Love a Second Chance

When I Thought Love Was Lost

I fell in love. He was my college sweetheart. I thought I’d spend forever with him. Three years later, he cheated on me. I was devastated. Lost faith. Lost myself.

I was scared to love. I was scared of love. I was afraid of letting anyone in my heart and it breaking again.

Checkout: He cheated. I Chose Me

Love, Rebooted: A Fresh Start

Then one day, I met him. Little did I know, I’d fall for him. He was my anchor amidst all the chaos. The calm I never knew I needed in my life. He listens, like truly and wholeheartedly listens while I talk nonstop- about my life, my fears, my hopes.

First look — no similarities, there was absolutely nothing that connected us, except for the values we hold. He liked reading, and I liked writing. He was practical, I was emotional. He listened while I talked. He was into realistic things, while I liked fantasy. I was an overthinker, but he helped me find my balance.

After a while, in a regular phone call, he confessed. Nothing fancy, no buildups — it was just a simple admission of feelings that took my breath away. It took his courage for me to realize my own feelings. I knew it, even though I didn’t acknowledge. Rather, I didn’t want to accept it. I got reminded of my past, and I had my own doubts. But I was able to open up to him, was able to be vulnerable with him, a level of comfort I never experienced.

The Probation Period: A New Kind of Love

We agreed to take things slow, like on a “probation period”, no pressure, no expectations, just two people trying to figure things out. We would hang out, go on dates, share our worlds. Down the lane, I realized he was the one. It wasn’t about our differences. It was about how we balanced each other. How we grew together, supporting one another.

The probation was over; we didn’t need any grand declarations. We both just knew. I was ready again, not because I had to, but because I felt safe to give love another chance. I took my time.

Fighting, Growing, Loving

There were days when we couldn’t talk. Days when our calls lasted for less than 30 seconds. Times when distance tested our patience. But at the end of each of those days, we knew what we meant to each other.

This doesn’t mean we never fight. We do. After all, we are two individuals with different opinions, backgrounds and choices. We have our set of disagreements. It’s never about avoiding those conflicts, but about how we resolve them. We have immense respect for each other as human beings and made it a point to never go to bed angry. So we burst out at times and resolve it with a tight hug.

Building a Lasting Connection

Four years later, we are still going strong. We introduced each other to our families. I have found new passions along the way, one of which is writing, which he encouraged me to restart. We motivate each other to grow, to be the best version of ourselves, and just like that, we built a solid relationship.

Love Isn’t Perfect, But It’s Worth It

In the process, I learnt something valuable. Love isn’t about finding the right person. It is about two people choosing to trust each other and grow together. It is about embracing both the messy and beautiful sides of the person you choose to spend your life with.

Love isn’t just a feeling; it’s an act of courage of stepping into something unknown with the person who sees you for who you are and still chooses to go through it.

And at times, when love shows up after heartbreak, it might be the best chapter of your life. So, give it a chance and don’t shut yourself off.

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This post was previously published on medium.com.