Still single at 38. Does true love even exist anymore, or is it just something we’re sold in books, movies, and fairytales? Lately, I’ve been asking myself this question a lot.

When I was younger, I believed love was inevitable, something that would just happen when the time was right. I imagined the perfect partner would come along and we’d have this effortless connection, a partnership full of romance, passion, and unwavering support. But as the years have gone by, life has felt a little more complicated than that. Relationships have come and gone, and while I’ve loved and lost, none of it has felt like that “forever” kind of love.

It’s not that I haven’t tried. I’ve put myself out there—dating apps, blind dates set up by friends, even striking up conversations with strangers in the hopes of finding a spark. And while I’ve met some wonderful people along the way, it just hasn’t clicked in the way I’ve always dreamed. Sometimes, I wonder if my expectations are too high. Am I chasing an ideal that doesn’t exist? Or am I just unlucky?

At 38, it’s hard not to feel a little disheartened. I see my friends settling down, building families, and living their happily ever afters. I’m genuinely happy for them, but it’s hard not to feel left behind. I start to wonder if love is really out there for me or if I’m destined to go through life alone.

Still, a part of me holds onto hope. Maybe true love isn’t something that happens to us but something we create—through patience, openness, and perseverance. I don’t know the answer yet, but I’m not ready to give up. Not yet. True love must be out there somewhere. Right?