Hopelessly Devoted to Delusion: A Love Story Gone Wrong

Love is the pretty little lie we tell ourselves when we try and justify bad decisions. One over-the-top, dramatic gesture from a rom-com, and then we're off to believe the bare-minimum amount of effort is required is actually undying love. A man opens a door—the wedding colours are decided upon. He sends a three-word text. Assemble a CIA task force for analysis. Truth? We are all a tad delusional over love—no, scratch that, full-on musicals-on-Broadway style of make-believe.

 First, Disney sold the fantasy of being recognised by some man who quite literally saw us in disguise five minutes prior, and then Nicholas Sparks raises that bar even further with dramatic rain-soaked confessions and some handwritten letters solving everything. Therefore, we reach adulthood expecting a chase across airports, some really grand speeches, and at least someone who risks it all, except TSA has rules, and your love interest is probably too busy doom-scrolling to have noticed that you left.

 Fast forward to modern romance, and this delusion thrives online. We wait for a text like our lives depend on it. They liked your Instagram story so clearly they're obsessed, a "lol" instead of their usual “ha-ha" , something is wrong. And then the ghosters, the people who just vanish into thin air only to pop up three months later with a casual "hey" like they didn't just pull a full Houdini. And yet, against all logic, we convince ourselves this time it will be different. Spoiler: it never is.

 And let's not forget the greatest DIY romance project of all: the infamous "I can change them" delusion. We see the emotional unavailability, the text-ghosting, the army of lingering exes, and think, "Challenge accepted." But honey, love is not a renovation show, and you are not Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent. People don't change because you believe in their potential. The only thing changing is your expectations—lowering, that is.

 So, do we give up on hope and retreat into cynical solitude? Not in the least. Love, when it's real, is worth it. Trust me, I know. But let's not chase fantasies that belong in poorly written Netflix originals. Stop romanticising mixed signals. Believe people when they show you who they are. And for the love of all things holy, if someone wants to be with you, they will act like it—no decoding required. Now, go forth and be delusion-free… or at least delusional with a little more self-awareness. 

Happy Valentine’s Day! 🥰