The initial euphoria fades. The bills arrive. The dishes pile up. You discover that the person you love squeezes the toothpaste from the middle of the tube, and they discover that you are pathologically late. The ascent is not glamorous. It involves repairs, apologies, compromises, and the slow, unsexy work of building a shared life.
Do not worry if you are on Step 3 (the terrifying fall), Step 5 (the quiet pause), or Step 6 (the painful detour). You are exactly where you need to be. Just keep walking. i passi dell amore