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When Love Fizzles: Why Desire is the Missing Link in Lasting Relationships

There’s something enchanting about young love — the kind of love that feels electric, where every glance carries a promise and every touch sparks fireworks. It’s the stuff of fairy tales, movies, and endless Instagram captions.
But let’s fast forward a few years. What happens when the butterflies turn into schedules and the passion feels more like a chore? When the fire that once burned bright seems to flicker out in the bedroom?
Welcome to the side of love that no one likes to talk about — the part where reality challenges romance, and love without desire feels like a hollow victory.
The “Perfect Couple” Facade
A few years ago, my friend Jessica was the embodiment of what people call “couple goals.” At 24, she and her boyfriend were head over heels in love. They laughed, traveled, and seemed inseparable. On paper, they were flawless.
But as Jessica once revealed to me in a teary conversation, their picture-perfect relationship was crumbling where it mattered most: behind closed doors.
“I feel invisible in the one place I should…