If Star-crossed Lovers Lived

Do you think Romeo and Juliet would have been as immortal in life as they were in death? I mean, had they lived and had little Romeo Jr. (technically they were already married) would they be as famous and as oft-quoted as they are now? Would their love story still be deemed the greatest love story of all time - a perfect ode to love?

Yeah right! Romeo never had to see Juliet first thing in the morning, and Juliet never heard Romeo snoring. Tragedy is what lends so much allure to love stories, what allows them to play out, reach their natural life cycle and, like everything else, eventually reach the maturity stage. At this point dying for one another might appear to be slightly foolish, if not downright ridiculous.

Love changes over time. It grows deeper, and the thumping heart and jelly knees turn into a different kind of emotion; it becomes real, and like everything real, it stops being a perfect little fairy tale.

It becomes more meaningful because it is accepted with all of its flaws and imperfections; it turns into acceptance and respect and the desire to make things work even when the going gets a bit rough.

It's a strange kind of friendship, a paradox of sorts - someone capable of hurting you worse than anyone ever could, but at the same time someone who can make you the happiest you've ever been.

It is being accepted even after you've made a complete ass of yourself at times. It is making room for another in your precious space, allowing the heart to open up a little more every day to accommodate each others' insecurities and ego, unspoken fears and vanities.

It's doing little things for one another. It is unconsciously turning in the night and feeling thankful for the person next to you, feeling content at knowing there is someone out there who knows you better than you think they know you; someone who you may fight with and exchange cruel words with, but someone who will still be there in the morning.

Someone you may walk away mentally from once in a while... but someone you return to each time. Someone tied to you with the most fragile of bonds, yet often the one most difficult to break.