I used to think love only felt real when it was constant. I believed that if someone truly cared about you, they would always reply fast, always check on you, and always make their feelings obvious every day. Anytime communication changed or someone became quieter than usual, I immediately started overthinking everything. I thought distance meant losing interest because I didn't yet understand how emotionally overwhelming life can become for people sometimes. But as I got older, I realized healthy love is not built on pressure or constant emotional dependency. Real love understands that people carry stress, exhaustion, and silent battles they don't always know how to explain. Sometimes people simply need space to breathe and process life quietly without it meaning their feelings disappeared. And honestly, one of the most beautiful parts of mature love is trusting someone's heart even during the quiet moments.