Is that really too much to ask for?

I’ve seen what love looks like. Not in some fairy tale movie or a perfect relationship on Instagram. I’ve seen it in the way my mother loved. That quiet, powerful kind of love. The kind that didn’t keep score, didn’t disappear when it got hard. The kind that showed up every single day.

She didn’t just tell me she cared, she proved it. In how she listened. In how she stayed up late when I was sick. In how she noticed even the things I never said out loud. Her love was gentle, but fierce. Soft, but strong. Not perfect, but present. And that’s what made it priceless.

So when I say I’m not settling for the bare minimum in a relationship, it’s not because I’m asking for the world. I just want to feel like I matter. Like someone sees me. Like effort isn’t one-sided. Like I don’t have to chase something that should be natural.

We live in a time where love is filtered. Where girls call you clingy for wanting to talk, but expect you to be available 24/7. Where leaving someone on read is considered a flex, attention is a game, and communication is minimal unless they’re in the mood. They crave validation more than connection. They romanticize independence but expect you to carry the emotional weight of the relationship.

If I give my loyalty, time, energy, and heart I deserve someone who won’t treat that like it’s disposable. I deserve someone who understands that “I love you” isn’t just three words. It’s shown in small acts, honest conversations, showing up on tough days, and choosing each other even when it’s not convenient.

I am not saying I need someone to be like my mother, but I need someone who understands love like she did.

So no, I’m not asking for too much. I’m asking for what’s real. I’m asking for what love should feel like not a game, not a performance, but something that feels safe, honest, and whole.