You can’t get close without
opening yourself up. And there’s great risk
in doing that. We all want love.
But we also want to avoid pain. Well, you can

have both in the same. Loving someone
is overcoming the pain enough
to remain. Overcoming the pain involves both
people, not one trying to tough it out

alone. Not one trying to pretend all is
right when all is wrong. Not one playing the martyr;
not one thinking they’re smarter. But two people being
vulnerable and honest.  Love is worth the pain it cost.