By Crystal Duc

Amidst our drastically changing world, do love and happy endings still exist?

At the end of another dreary and lonely day of quarantine, while I cook my dinner to the sound of the evening news, I find myself wishing for a companion. As much as I try to convince myself otherwise, I know it would be a magical event if I found my true love during the upheaval of today’s society.

With all the uncertainty and disorder in these trying times, many of us are doubtful about the possibility of finding true love. We can put our search for love on hold, but in doing so, it may cause us to overlook our soulmate while on a masked outing or perhaps involved in a political protest. 

Doesn’t it make you wonder if your true love is wearing a mask while standing 6 feet from you at a grocery store? 

For many of us who fall asleep alone each night, regardless of our previous attempts at love, and despite the ongoing chaos surrounding us, our hearts still yearn for a mate.

If you are like me, then you might feel guilty daydreaming of true love during this deadly pandemic, amid the swirling tensions of the Black Lives Matter movement and the looming importance of the upcoming presidential election. 

Nevertheless, I hope we all remember that we are only human and that it is in our nature to seek fulfillment through companionship.

Perhaps you are contemplating whether or not you are the only one who is looking for love during these difficult times and if you should stop searching altogether. I am here to tell you that you are not alone in your quest.

I believe love has the power to heal and transform us into the best version of ourselves, and right now, our country is in desperate need of healing. 

Regardless of social distancing, there are popular and successful dating apps such as Tinder, eHarmony, and Match.com. As fickle as they may seem, dating apps such as these do provide a venue for people to find a genuine connection with another person. 

As our society continues to change around us, we unknowingly adapt and change with it. As we change and overcome adversities, we grow. Although it feels like our world has turned upside down, we must not give up on our aspirations of love.

As I sit down to eat my evening meal and scan through online dating profiles, I feel impatient but also comforted, knowing that my happy ending is still out there. 

The next time you find yourself standing in the produce section of a grocery store, give the masked person standing near you one more glance, because who knows? True love and your happy ending could be standing right in front of you.