While some
imitations of love should have nothing to do with
friendship (but often do anyway),
sincere,
unconditional love should have
everything to do with friendship.
When I first make someone's
acquaintance I may be
charmed by his or her
wit,
impressed with
ideas he or she puts forward, or
attracted to his or her overall
personality, but it is not until I wish to
communicate and start
being open and
generous that I can get to know him or her on a deeper level. While I feel that this point in a friendship is truly invaluable, I don't think that love can take these benefits away or
cheapen the friendship. Once you have taken
the time and effort to get to know someone, love can't help but develop. Not
lustful love, but
unselfish love. I have several dear boyfriends. I would never
date any of them and neither would any of them date me, but each knows that I love him dearly, and I know that each loves me. We may not
keep in touch that often, but we don't have to--our love is unconditional, without that
taking for granted that comes so often with
familial relationships.
Love does not
ruin a friendship--it makes it
real.