You didn’t have much, but it didn’t matter.

You liked each other. That was enough.

Your last love, the one you hope for, feels like peace.

Like something real.

Like something safe.

But the loves in between?

Those belong to our generation.

That’s where things changed.

Somewhere along the way, love started feeling transactional.

Money on one side.

Sex on the other.

Everyone pretending it’s deeper than it is.

You start noticing patterns.

You realize affection comes with expectations.

You realize effort is sometimes measured by what you can provide, not who you are.

So you become cautious.

You start asking yourself,

Do they like me… or what I offer?

Am I valued… or just useful?

You still want connection, but you’re surrounded by situationships, half-commitments, and unspoken deals.

And that’s why the loves in between hurt differently.

Because you’re not naive anymore, but you’re not settled either.

You want something real in a space that often rewards convenience.

Even if you go on to love many times after this phase, these loves stay with you.

Because this is where love stopped being innocent and hadn’t yet become genuine again.

This is where our generation learned to guard their hearts.