Lust vs. Love | Teen Ink

Lust vs. Love

August 18, 2012
By aritterx BRONZE, Jericho, New York
aritterx BRONZE, Jericho, New York
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Love is not defined by your relationship status on Facebook, or by how many Trojans you’ve used. Love is not defined by a dozen red roses or by “<3” in a text message. Love is not defined by a fro-yo stop paid for with your parents' money or by The Notebook.
Love, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is an intense feeling of deep affection. I have felt love for many objects, concepts, family, and friends.
But I can’t seem to feel it for any boyfriend. Don’t mind my skepticism, but love can’t be measured at this age. I’ve thought I’ve felt it, but I’ve just merely confused it for lust. Lust for his looks, charm, and how well he plays the game.
A year ago, my boyfriend at the time told me he loved me two weeks into the relationship. Call me crazy, but we had barely known each other, let alone loved each other. A fondness at most would have been acceptable. Infatuation, more plausible.
He stared back at me awaiting an “I love you” back. Engulfed in guilt, I said it, but I didn’t mean it. I shifted my gaze towards the floor afterwards with a toothless grin, ashamed at myself. Why did I feel the need to say it back? I’m still not sure. After what I soon assumed to be as lust ended, so did our relationship because it wasn’t love. If it was, I would’ve fought for it.
What I gathered from that experience was that to say “I love you” is not, and should not be, an obligation.
Our generation has bore witness to the deterioration of the word. Love is the most powerful and that comes with time. Not 14 days. Say it when you mean it, when you feel it, when you want to fight for it.



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This article has 1 comment.


on Sep. 26 2012 at 8:47 pm
writer3499 GOLD, New Bedford, Massachusetts
11 articles 0 photos 196 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;it&#039;s impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might has well not have lived at all-in which case you fail by default.&quot;<br /> -J.K.Rowling

I totally agree with this! Kids our age do need to stop saying "I love you" to people we barly know because, as you said, we don't mean it. Awesome peice! It was really well written and very interesting. Would you mind checking out some of my work? Thanks!