12 people describe exactly what it feels like when someone doesn’t love you back

Love is one of those magical things in life we just can’t quite put into words. Falling in love with someone and having them love you back in the same unconditional, beyond the scars of your past, come-what-may kind of way — is what most of us really want from our romantic relationships, isn’t it? It’s sure as heck what we’re looking for. But unfortunately, it doesn’t always happen like that.

Sometimes we find ourselves loving people who can’t or won’t love us back in the way we deserve. And while some of our favorite movies and television shows (we’re looking at you Crazy Ex-Girlfriend — we’re binge watching) have done a really good job romanticizing the idea, there is nothing romantic about unrequited love. It’s the kind of love that brings no reward. There’s no real joy. We’re often just left questioning our self worth and clinging to the hope that one day, maybe, they’ll wake up and love us back.

One of life’s toughest lessons is accepting the fact that you can’t make someone fall in love with you, no matter how much you want them to. If this is something you’re currently struggling to accept, we’re sending you so much love. And hoping you’ll take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone, thanks to Whisper, we’ve gotten a glimpse into the minds and hearts of 12 people who’ve shared their stories about loving someone who didn’t love them back.

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Now, here we are and can you please tell us — where do broken hearts go? Can they find their way home? We certainly hope so!