The Death of TL

A very good friend of mine, who until just the other day
I've always thought of as a "hopeless romantic", said to me:
"I don't believe in true love anymore either."

This friend of mine, she's one in a million - someone who is
genuinely good and unpretentious. I've always kind of
seen her as a cute, innocent little sister who I must protect
from the flawed, cruel, and unforgiving world. I've always loved
her charming naivete. In my eyes she seemed forever young.

When I thought back on her words, I felt like the overprotective
busybody elder sister realizing that her little lamb had suddenly grown up.
This sweet girl with whom I've had the most stimulating discussions with
about the romantic mythos has declared she didn't believe anymore
in something she used to staunchly, steadfastly, persistently tried to defend.

Now me being me, I didn't think much about it at that time.
But later I thought, "Did she really say what I thought she said?"
Yes, she did. And I quite shocked myself when I found out that
it made me feel quite sad, indeed. That's it, then.
The Death of True Love.

If even the hopeless romantics don't believe in it anymore,
then it can't possibly be possible anymore.
I try to count on my ten fingers how many more people
I know still hold on to their faith that TL is alive and well.
Yep, I still need more than two hands for that. But as of
Tuesday night, the God of Love just might have lost another worshipper.

A moment of silence for the dying...