By the time you swear you're his, shivering and sighing, and he vows his passion is infinite undying - Lady make note of this: one of you is lying.

- -Dorothy Parker

LOVE:

I'm a cynic. I don't have much faith in this thing called "love." There are many meaning's to this word and we all seem to confuse them. So here's a little help with it...

Love (luv) n. affection; strong liking; goodwill; benevolence; charity; devoted attachment to one of the opposite sex; passion; the object of affection; the personification of love; Cupid.

True, I love my family, and I love my friends. But what teenaged boyfriend and girlfriends are telling each other, I think you're mixing up the many meaning's of love. Maybe ya just like them a lot... and/or you just want what they can offer. Maybe popularity, and sadly enough, sex. Or maybe just a decoration on your arm. Perhaps to say "Yeah, I'm with them." Amazing what peer pressure can amount to, huh?

Also, I think some may confuse love with loyalty. I think that's what I mainly feel towards my family. I don't have 'strong liking' towards a few of my family members. But I will stand by them as much as possible. I'm loyal to many. I'd walk through hell and back for my family and friends and all those who are close to me.

But I don't think that that is really love.

Maybe it's where you would give up anything for one person, just to see them happy. But don't have to, because they won't let you because they want to see you happy too... Maybe it's when you would rather kill yourself then inflict or allow any emotional or physical pain upon them... Maybe it's when you worship someone, when you treasure them as if they are some precious gift. Taking care of them as if they were fragile glass that you fear breaking... Maybe it's when you'd walk through hell and back for them just to see them smile... Maybe... I'm not for sure. It could be one of these, all of them, or it could be none.

I don't think I really truly know the meaning of love. And I won't allow myself to open up to it. I've been burned many of times by those who confessed that they loved me. That they harbored deep feelings for me... and if that's love, then you can keep it. And keep it far away from me.

I do know a few things about love though. You give it, not take it. You cherish it, not break it. You give it completely and unselfishly. It's where you have enough love inside you to be enough for two. Where you don't need to have the other verbally express their love for you because you just know. Where you would let them go, and wait anxiously for their return. Where they're your safety net in life, your cocoon. It's where all you need is that person and their love for you in your life, and nothing else...