CHAPTER 05

It’s been 10 days since Valentine’s Day.

The flowers are gone. The dinner photos are old news. The heart-shaped everything has disappeared from shelves.

And now that the noise has faded, maybe this is the best time to say it:

Yes, we know Valentine’s Day is marketed for couples. Roses. Reservations. Soft-launch posts. And if you’re not in that picture, it can feel like you’re standing just outside it.

But love was never that limited.

There are so many people who deserve to feel chosen and appreciated on that day. The friend who sends you notes before an exam. The one who listens to your stress at 2 a.m. The sibling who defends you. The parent who still says, “Text me when you get home.” The grandparents who check in just to hear your voice, slip you a little cash “for yourself,” and make sure you never leave their house without eating properly. Even the people who show up quietly and consistently without needing a caption.

Being single on Valentine’s Day isn’t a tragedy. It’s not a reflection of your worth. It just means your love might look different right now.

Love is in friendships that feel safe.
In family that checks in.
In mentors who guide you.
In choosing yourself when no one else does.

It doesn’t have to be romantic to be real.

So maybe, 10 days later, we can reclaim it a little. Strip it back. Remember that it was never only about couples.

It’s about love in any form: the steady, simple kind that makes ordinary days easier.

And that kind of love? It’s still worth celebrating.

Penned By:

Rtr. Chanithi Korala

Editorial Committee Member 25.26