The ache can be unbearable, and the cost of love is a steep one that requires immense bravery and the willingness to bare one's soul. Bottling up your emotions can be a torture that rivals physical pain. When love is not reciprocated, the aftermath can be devastating, shattering the very foundation of your self-worth. The hardest part of one-sided love is losing sight of your own value and sacrificing your dignity in pursuit of the person who holds your heart. It's effortless to compare oneself to others and sink further into a pit of insecurity. Perhaps you even blame yourself for not meeting their standards. The truth is, unrequited love is a formidable foe that demands time and patience to overcome. The grief and heartbreak that come with it can be overwhelming.

I was in love with them, and I believe they're feeling the same. I am deeply committed to them, and I am deeply committed to us. At some point, they stopped wanting to have a future with me. I feel so much despair for what the future holds, knowing too well how it would end, but I still love them for who they have been. One thing I knew for sure was that we were happy. It almost feels like I have met the right person, but they changed their mind and don't want a future together, and until I stop loving them, it's hard to say whether anybody will stand a chance or not. I couldn't recall how many days, weeks, or months I've decided to succumb to the darkness, but I believe I don't have much choice other than to toughen it up. I couldn't stop thinking about how we could have been, how we could have worked it out, only if they let us. I found myself completely powerless to persuade them to stay, to remain in this boat together. The love is still there, but I've got no fight left.