I’m 35 and still single. It’s a reality that often weighs heavily on my mind, even if I don’t admit it out loud. Friends and family have long stopped asking when I’ll “settle down.” Maybe they’ve sensed that my answer would always be the same—a shrug, a forced smile, and a half-hearted “I’m just waiting for the right person.” But deep down, I wonder if true love is really out there for me or if it’s just some fairy tale that got lost in my twenties.

I’ve had my share of relationships, some that were almost right but not quite. Each one taught me something—how to love, how to compromise, and sometimes, how to walk away. But with each relationship that didn’t work out, the doubts grew a little stronger. Maybe my standards are too high, or perhaps I’m too independent now, set in my ways. I see couples everywhere—at the grocery store, holding hands at the park, laughing over dinner. It’s hard not to wonder, what do they have that I don’t?

Dating apps haven’t helped much. Swiping left and right has become a repetitive game, a blur of faces that seem interesting at first but often fade after a few texts. Conversations that start with sparks tend to fizzle out before they even begin, leaving me feeling emptier than before. I used to think technology would make finding love easier, but sometimes it feels like it’s only created more distance.

There are moments when loneliness hits me unexpectedly—like when I come home to an empty apartment after a long day or when I receive a wedding invitation in the mail. I try to focus on the positives: I have a great career, supportive friends, and a lifestyle that I’ve built for myself. I’m not defined by my relationship status, I know that. Yet, there’s a quiet yearning inside me for something more—for someone who truly understands me, who wants to share the little moments and make life’s burdens feel lighter.

People tell me I’ll find love when I stop looking for it, but that’s easier said than done. I try to keep an open heart, to believe that there’s someone out there who will see me for who I am and love me for it. Until then, I carry on, holding onto hope, because I know I deserve a love that’s real, no matter how elusive it may seem in today’s world.