Is love enough to sustain a relationship?

This is the link to part 1, in case you missed the story.

Click here for Part 1

There are two sides to a story.

My name is Jeremy and this is my story.

I met Cheryl sometime in November, she was a very vibrant and fun person to be with, I was an introvert while she was more of an ambivert. During our journey, I learned how to communicate a lot, one thing I admired about her was how she would "say it, just how she felt it".

Cheryl came into my life when I had been a bachelor for a very long time, I had to unlearn being alone, you see, I was never a fan of love, I had so many short-term relationships, and though a part of me wanted to experience real love while the other part of me was not ready for all of that.

We started as very good friends, Cheryl was a very loving lady, she would always check up on me and I loved that a lot. She was the First Lady I have ever had long conversations with, I started to like the fact that I could come out of my shell and I started getting used to talking to her.

She got a very soothing voice and I loved the sound of it, the very first day I heard her voice, I fell in love with it, well I began to enjoy our long conversations over the phone, we could talk about random topics for hours and damn, she knows how to hold a conversation.

I learned a lot of things through her and even mimicked some of her mannerisms (this is to show you the extent I grew fond of her), along the line, I was beginning to develop a soft spot for her but I hid this feeling as much I could from her, you know how we hard guy behaves now, I knew this wasn't what I wanted because I had plans to leave the country. I thought of withdrawing from her at this point it was such a difficult thing to do.

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I guess at a point too, she too has developed a deep soft spot for me, the day I realized this was when she refused to take my calls while we were still friends, I guess she grew fond of me and was trying to be defensive, so she wanted to stay away from me since it was obvious I was becoming too comfy in the friend zone, I called severally that day, she refused to take my calls neither did she respond to my chats. I was so unhappy that day and then I knew I wanted her around more than I imagined, I knew it was some sort of butterflies in my tummy.

To cut the long story short, because I am not good at narrating, after pacifying her to take my calls, we had that " one long conversation on that fateful evening."

I told her I knew I loved her and wanted her around, I also told her I had plans to leave the country not going into details with her about that.

Deep in my heart, I never wanted to hurt her because she told me how she's been hurt in the past, aside from the fact she isn't as tall as I have wanted my ladies to be, she's got a very rare and beautiful heart, she was full of positivity, she always encouraged me and prayed for me, she was indeed a happy soul, there wasn't a dull moment with her.

Well, I was still in two minds, and hurting her was far from my plan neither did I want to lose such a positive vibe in my corner.

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So, I decided to experience love at least and probably go with the flow, we got dating and everything was cool, she was less of a drama queen and she brought me so much peace. Cheryl was very industrious, even though she earned little I couldn't recall a day she asked me for finance, everything I gave her was my free will.

Naturally, I love ladies who are quite tall even though I am tall, Cheryl was the opposite, though beautiful for her stature.

She placed my happiness ahead of hers as I felt the love she showered me down to my bone, I reciprocated to the best of my ability.

The truth was, I was overwhelmed and didn't know what to do with the love simply because I have never been loved this way before, I felt it was too good to be true.

I have a problem staying committed to a relationship, and there are always ladies here and there trying to gain my attention..hmm, that's by the way.

I felt choked and wanted space, I got tired along the line, and suddenly I started to get distracted from my goals coupled with the fact that she wasn't financially buoyant, I wanted a balanced relationship, and I felt we were too broke to be together so I wanted to opt-out.

I knew my decision was going to hurt her so much but I didn't know the right way to go about it.

After her last visit, I made up my mind not to take her calls anymore, Cheryl had a smart instinct and she kept asking what was wrong, well, I couldn't hide it anymore I had to spill it, I told her I was leaving the country because my uncle wanted me to get married to a foreigner to secure the green card, well part of this is true, but deep down it wasn't the sole reason for ending it all. I still wanted her around as a close friend as I still have my exes around as close friends. Cheryl was different, she didn't want the friendship at all.

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I knew I hurt her a lot as I heard her cry over the phone, despite the stunt pulled, it was so hard for her to let go of me, I realized she loves me,

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but I needed to focus on my life plus I wanted to enjoy the perks of being a cute guy, hanging out with ladies without accounting for it to anyone.

I hope to find a lady who is quite on the tall side maybe I would learn to love her and commit to her.

Though I still have plans to leave the country, I am currently working towards it, I honestly wish the best for her and pray she finds someone deserving of the heart she's got.

I hope someday in my life, I would get to compromise and commit to a relationship and eventually enjoy a long-term relationship when I feel inclined to.

She asked, "if it was love after all."

Well, maybe yes it was love while it lasted, or maybe I just didn't want to be alone at that moment, or maybe she made me feel better for the time being, but I guess sometimes love isn't just enough.

Now I ask all of you readers, do you think love is all we need to sustain a relationship?

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Love is a powerful force but love isn't enough to sustain a relationship reason being we all have fundamental differences in relationships.

These are some of the recipes you need to sustain a relationship, 

•Commitment

•Communication

•Compromise /Sacrifice

• Emotional maturity and balance

• Respect and acceptance

• Trust and Accountability 

Love is just a component of a healthy relationship but if all other recipes are missing then love can't and will never sustain a relationship.

When there is true love in a relationship it only makes it easy to possess the  recipes for a healthy relationship, as they say,

"Love covers a multitude of sins".

Thank you for stopping by, till we meet again, this is your girl Amie Geoffrey.