The quote suggests that love stories are fundamentally about their starting points. When people recount falling in love, they often focus on identifying the exact moment or circumstances when feelings shifted from mere interest or friendship to something deeper and more profound.
Beyond its surface meaning, this statement touches on the human tendency to search for definitive moments that mark significant changes in our lives. By pinpointing a specific instant as the beginning of romantic love, individuals may find clarity and significance in what might otherwise seem like an ongoing process with blurred edges. This act also reflects how humans construct narratives around their experiences to make sense of them, turning complex emotions into clear-cut stories.
Meghan O'Rourke is a well-known American poet, essayist, and critic. She has contributed extensively to literary journals and newspapers, including The New Yorker, where she was previously an editor. Her work often explores themes such as memory, identity, and the nature of relationships.
