Love

The blatant promise of a career in the spotlight has stripped the Bachelor/Bachelorette of its beautiful, benign lie: that we could watch “regular” people navigate the perils and pitfalls of modern dating, that such a quest was in and of itself enough, and that a happy ending was a real possibility.

This week, we visit Rachel’s hometown of Dallas, TX, with the three men left - Peter, Eric, and Bryan. All but Bryan win family approval before the trio of dudes meet up with Rachel in Spain, where Peter brings some major drama of his own.

Fires don’t burn forever on their own, but they do for those who keep fanning them. So no, you don’t always have to like your partner. But you can find new ways to smoke out negativity, and keep your love ablaze.

Remembering to do things isn’t exactly my strong suit, so I need to actively plan so that my partner isn’t the only one making lists, cleaning the dishes, and checking that our bills are paid on time.

At first I got angry. I’m supposed to be the love of his life, the Rachel to his Ross.

I find that clarity is the key to getting the exact heterosexual intercourse you want. Part of this involves taking the gloves off around discussions of my body. So, I said it in the ad:
“I weigh 250 pounds.”

This is your brain on love. And it’s scary.

Long Reads is a bimonthly feature, showcasing long-form essays.