Real life romance isn’t like it is in fiction; and that makes it special

It’s no secret I read a lot of books and watch a lot of TV/movies. And I don’t hide the fact that I am a sucker for romantic fiction. Most of my fantasy books I read have an underlying romance somewhere. Same with many of my fave shows or movies. I seek out Hallmark romances and Rom-Coms all the time.

There’s always a fairly consistent theme to them. I love a Happily Ever After. They are full of tropes that I love (they have to pretend to be married? Sign me up. Enemies to lovers? Here for it). And there’s a moment where one of them saves the other. And a moment when they fight. And so on and so forth.

Today marks our 14th wedding anniversary. On a grey day in May, fourteen years ago, Andy and I committed to a life together.

Marriage isn’t like most of the fantastical romance novels I read. And that’s ok.

I don’t need a white knight moment where he performs a daring rescue; instead, I need someone who will make me laugh and support me when I’ve had a rough day at work.

We don’t need a situation to bring us closer together. Each day we work on ensuring that we are being respectful and loving to each other.

We’ve learned over the years to to communicate, carve out time together (even if it means sitting on the couch with a glass of wine catching up after a busy week. Those moments mean everything to me). We navigate parenthood together, and all the changes to our relationship that has brought. We also know how to leave each other alone, and give the other space.

There is no secret trick to guarantee a long lasting marriage. None of us know what the future may bring. My romance books and movies usually end when the couple finally declares their love for each other and ride off together. It’s left to our imagination what happens next.

But in real life, we can’t imagine what’s next because we are living it.

And I wouldn’t want to live it with anyone else by my side.

Today we celebrate our anniversary and I am just as in love as I was many years ago.

No fiction can compete with that.