Between the Sips of Love and Time
I believe life has this beautiful way of introducing people to us, often in the most unexpected moments. Some stay longer than we could ever have imagined, teaching us something valuable along the way. I’ve come to understand that each person who enters our life brings a lesson — sometimes in joy, sometimes in pain, but always in growth.
As Haemin Sunim once said, “The wave of emotion will naturally recede on its own as long as you don’t feed it by dwelling on it.” I’ve learned this to be true. We are the ones who make it harder for ourselves by clinging too tightly to emotions. But with time, I’ve realized that my emotions, thoughts, and actions all work in harmony. I’ve become better at letting them flow, trusting that even sadness serves its purpose in the bigger picture.
Unrequited feelings aren’t something anyone asks for, yet here I am, finding peace in knowing that love doesn’t always need to be returned in the way I expect. Even in crowded rooms, or in the midst of a busy day, I find myself thinking of you, and strangely, it’s okay. It’s no longer about whether you think of me the same way. It’s about the certainty that I love, and I love deeply.
I used to fear how quickly people change, how connections can dissolve. But now, I’m more focused on something else — my own strength, my ability to love without needing immediate reciprocity. I can love, even from afar. I can love, even if our paths never cross again. And isn’t that a beautiful thing? To love without conditions, to trust that time will unfold as it must.
I’ve never been one to give up easily. For me, letting go is never a sign of defeat; it’s a testament to the depth of my effort, to all the times I tried before releasing my grip. And as much as I’ve tried to hold on, I’ve come to embrace the idea that this chapter, however painful, is just a part of our story.
Some days, it feels like you never even left my thoughts, as if you’ve been there all along. Other days, the ache of missing you lingers a bit more than usual. But no matter how strong the longing, I find hope in the belief that this is not the end. This is just a pause, a chapter that will soon close, making way for the rest of our story to unfold.
I might have been born in a time where love feels like a fading art, but I’m here to prove it still exists. I carry that love with me every day. Even if we aren’t speaking right now, even if you no longer feel the same, I know that the love I have for you is steadfast. It’s not something that can be erased by time or distance.
And so, I write this before the coffee gets cold, not in sadness but in hope. Hope that our story isn’t over and that what’s written so far is only the beginning. We may be in different places now, but I believe with all my heart that the best chapters are still out there, waiting for us to write them together.
And with that, I finish writing this at 3:26 AM, as the last sip of my coffee cools in the cup beside me.