Love is great, isn't it? There have been plenty of people who have talked about love in more accurate or poetic ways than I have, but I think it's pretty neat that in a planet of 7.5 billion people, there are a select few who make us feel all fuzzy and gooey inside. Quite phenomenal, if you ask me. But unfortunately, like all good things, love must come to an end. Sometimes, that end comes quietly at the side of a hospital bed after many decades together, but sometimes, couples don't always make it to the "death do us part" bit. Here are a few stories from people who have lost that lovin' feeling.

1. There's nothing like a late night realisation

2. Two very different things

3. I think it's better to rip off the Band-Aid than prolong things

4. Sometimes, drugs offer a different perspective

5. Distance can kill many a relationship

6. Sometimes, cheating can be a good way to gain some clarity

7. Absence doesn't always make the heart grow fonder

8. When you don't care any more, that's a huge warning sign

9. Nothing like a good bit of closure

10. Love comes in many different forms

11. Rebounds can be intense, but they usually never last

12. It can happen

13. There's no greater distance than between two people falling out of love

14. Sometimes, after so long the spark just goes out 

15. Lots of emotions at play here

16. An emotional rollercoaster

17. The best way to identify fake love is to compare it to the real thing

18. The added proximity can be a killer for many romantic relationship

19. Perhaps a confession here is necessary

20. This is sad, but tragically true

Well there you have it, everyone. Sorry to bum you out there, but I think that the best way to approach love is to realise that it doesn't always last forever. It can be for a variety of reasons, but the most important thing to remember is that even if you fall out of love, there are still plenty of memories to cherish, and promises of better things in the future.

They say that you will always remember the moment you fell in love with your partner, and I can imagine the same is true for when you want to marry them. The following stories are from the men of Reddit who outline the moment that they realised they wanted to marry their partner. All of the stories are heartwarming and show that love can exist anywhere... even when your partner is violently vomiting and pooping.

1. She won that encounter

“When I first told my father that I was dating someone new, he jokingly asked: ‘What’s her name? What does she do? What’s her bra size?’

“I told her about it, hoping to prepare her for his sense of humour and she thought it was hilarious. The first time they met she introduced herself by saying: ‘Hi I’m Stephanie. I’m in college and I’m a B-cup.’

“My father was horrified, my mother was laughing hysterically and I was in love.”

2. At least it wasn't Justin Bieber 

“I left my favourite CD in her car (Dream Theater’s ‘Scenes From a Memory’). She wasn’t a huge fan, but put up with it whenever I listened. One day I was on the phone with her while she was driving and we said good-bye but she forgot to hang up. I waited a few seconds and I heard her singing along.”

3. Life moves fast

“Our first date lasted 12 hours because we just couldn’t stop talking. Our second date was supposed to be just dinner and it lasted almost two days. She drove away after the second date and I couldn’t imagine my life without her in it. I was ecstatic to find out she felt the same.”

4. If you still fancy her after that, she's the one

“We were three days into a month-long backpacking trip in southeast Asia. We were staying in a seedy hotel in Bangkok and she got a bad case of food poisoning - it was coming out of both ends for 24 hours.

"I, of course, became designated as her nurse. I was refilling her water bottle, getting her soup from the restaurant outside, keeping her company and, most importantly, emptying the trash bin she kept puking into.

"After one trip to empty her vomit bucket, I came back into the room and she was asleep. I looked at her and thought to myself: ’I’m not even bothered by this. I’d do anything for her. This is the woman I’m going to marry. She’s a disgusting barf fairy, but she’s my disgusting barf fairy.’ Zero regrets.”

5. She's a good influence

“I got mad and yelled at her for some stupid shit because I had been in a toxic relationship prior to meeting her and I thought that what couples did (scream and argue). I expected her to yell back at me, but she just stared at me for a moment and asked if I was done. I said I was and she proceeded to explain to me that people who love one another do not treat each other that way. We can disagree with one another, but there’s no reason to be mean. ‘If we’re going to be together, please don’t be mean to me again.’ That was 26 years ago (we’ve been married 25 years).”

6. What. A. Woman.

"My dad told me he knew he wanted to marry my mom when the McDonald's opened in Moscow after the USSR crumbled and she ate 6 Big Macs in a row."

7. May as well just make it official

"We'd been together for years, and were on vacation. People asked us if we were newlyweds and we said no and they said ah, so you've been married for a long time then? It did not occur to anyone that we were not married. We figured at that point we might as well throw a party and make it official."

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8. Crazy cat lady alert!

"One of our couple friends announced they were having a baby. Later that night she called me to her closet and goes 'look this is my baby' and she had wrapped up her cat like baby. The cat was so old and so pissed. I never laughed so hard."

9. Son = best wingman in the world?

"When my son called her "Mama". My ex left us high and dry when my son was 4 months old."

10. A different type of life sentence

"She told me on several occasions that she would murder me if I dumped her after she turned 40. So I proposed on her fortieth birthday."

11. A real sense of humor

“She was going to visit her dying grandpa who was in the hospital. She had to fly a ways to go see him and unfortunately, he died about an hour before she got there.

"She said, ‘He tried so hard to hang on so we could say one last goodbye, but he just couldn’t quite make it.’

"I said, ‘Or maybe he knew you were coming, so he died on purpose so he wouldn’t have to see you.’

"She laughed her ass off. I knew.”

12. Truly insulting

“This may be a bit unusual, but the way she could toss an insult around. I tend to tease playfully, and she could always toss banter right back. We ended up insulting each other so much that my friend had to assure his girlfriend that we were only kidding and didn’t hate each other. It was great.”

13. A rubbish time together

“The day she took off work to help me go through a dumpster. I had accidentally thrown my keys in the trash while cleaning out my car.

"We found them 2 hours later.”

14. A helping hand

“I had broken my right arm (actually cracked my elbow) and I’m right-handed. We had been together for about 6 months and she wiped my ass for me. Enough said.”

15. She literally saved my life

“Short version: She literally saved my life.

"Less-short version: I’m from Michigan. Back in December 2014, I was in Delaware for a business trip. I ended up getting food poisoning, which brought on DKA (for those non-diabetes, basically your blood gets poisoned and your body tries to fight it off, which proves to be futile). I was vomiting constantly, and kept drifting in and out of consciousness. My wife (then-girlfriend) called me about 20 or 30 times before I finally answered. The only thing I could force myself to say was ‘hi baby. I’m really sick.’ Then I blacked out again. What seemed like 5 minutes passed (which was actually about 12 – 13 hours) when I heard a banging on my hotel room door. I heard my girlfriend’s voice yelling ‘It’s me. Let me in.’ I screamed as loud as I could ‘get in here! get in here!’ then I blacked out. I woke up in the hospital a day later.

"I found out that when I didn’t answer the door, she ran downstairs, got a key, came up, and called an ambulance. The ambulance said that they would be there in 30 minutes. She said ‘that’s not soon enough.’ She put me into a rolling computer chair and pushed me to the elevator and out to her car, threw my near lifeless body in the back seat, and drove me to the hospital.

"When all was said and done, my body had a blood sugar level of 1,400 (my normal range is 110 – 140) and my white blood cell count was around 3,000 (I’m not 100% about this number, but I know it was high). My wife sat with me for 6 days in the hospital. Sleeping in the chair next to me. Left to eat but came right back. She didn’t leave my side.

"I should also mention that this was only 4 months after we started dating; however, we had been friends for a few years before this.

"I found out later that if she would have waited for the ambulance, I would not have made it. She literally saved my life. She sacrificed her time, risked getting fired and failing classes to drive 13 hours from Michigan to Delaware to take care of me. Once it all hit me as to what she had done, I was completely speechless and realized that if this girl is willing to do something like this for me, I must be pretty fucking special to her.

"I made it a priority once I recovered to ask her mother and father for their blessing, which they both gave me. I married her in May 2016. One of the scariest things to ever happen to me ended up showing me my girlfriend’s devotion and love for me. We just hit our one year anniversary, and although we’re a young couple, we are still kicking ass and going strong.”

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16. Sword Swinging

“When I was a young lad I had bought a pair of swords. Now for some reason I still had them, but when my now-wife agreed to come over my place I decided to hide them in a storage closet because why would any grown man have these. So, a while down the line she was looking for something in said closet when I heard ‘what the hell? You have swords? WHY ARE YOU HIDING THESE?!’ I was prepared to be mocked mercilessly, when instead she handed me one and then started swinging. It was about that time that I realized I was going to marry her.”

17. Saving a paramedic

“In my first week as licensed as a paramedic I had a two-year-old die on me. When I got off work, I drove to my girlfriend’s place and told her about my day. I was pretty numb at the time, trying to process this kid’s death despite all my efforts. I laid down on her couch, and she just wrapped her arms around me and laid with me for 3-4 hours as I tried to process.

"I slowly was able to talk my way through it, and then the tears started. She cried with me. I felt the whole world was so dark and ugly, but she was my island of light. Started saving up for a ring that week, and asked her to marry me 6 months later. In September, we celebrate our 5-year wedding anniversary. I’m still a paramedic, and she’s still my island.”

18. The perfect golf partner

“It was a blind date. I was 21 and she was 18. I took her to play miniature golf. At one point as I bent over to pick up my golf ball, she put her club between her legs and pantomimed that it was a dick and started thrusting it against my asshole while yelling ‘I’M HORNY.’ Totally broke the ice. We’ve been married for 16 years now and she’s just as crazy, loud, and hilarious. Our kids don’t even know how to handle her. She’s also gotten more beautiful with age.”

19. (Ice) Cream of the crop

“I was 18 and just gotten out of a dental appointment where 2 of my wisdom teeth were pulled out. I was drooling, stains of blood all over my shirt and it was the summertime. My gf at the time was 16, took what little money she had from her allowance, bought me a box of ice cream and biked 25 minutes just to deliver that box of ice cream and see how I was doing. With blood stains all over, she still gave me that look of love and planted a kiss on me. That was almost 20 years ago and I still can’t imagine having a happier life without her in it."

20. Road Trippin'

“Went on a five-day road trip with her and didn’t get tired of her company. I get exhausted by spending more than two days in a row with almost anyone.”

There you go - it's not all doom and gloom in this world of ours. Love does exist, it just finds you in funny ways.

We've all experienced what feels like more than our fair share of heartbreak and unrequited love. Since humankind evolved from solely being devoted to hunting and gathering, we have been enamored by some largely unattainable conception of "true love", and have remained in pursuit of it ever since. One need only scroll through their Instagram feed or turn on the latest Hollywood flick to see "the perfect couple". Elegantly coiffed and replete with long, lithe limbs, the aforementioned couple enjoys a trademark version of the "perfect love". All of their dates take place in candlelit settings that are eerily devoid of all other human life, and when they do eventually begin to argue, it's always passionate and never overly hurtful or damning. Unfortunately, love in real life looks very different. Historically, romantic films never show what happens after the guy gets the girl or vice versa. The film ends right when the relationship begins, and as anyone who has been in a relationship can testify to - they can be incredibly difficult, regardless of how in love you are. Certainly, breakups are nearly always inevitable and can be utterly traumatising. As many of us know, when you're in the depths of despair, it can feel like you're never going to get over your ex, or that you could never possibly feel the same amount of love for anyone else, but as every one will surely keep telling you,(to your great annoyance): it does eventually get better. And the following stories prove exactly that...

1. Sometimes closure can be found in the most unconventional of ways 

2. I mean, really unconventional... 

3. Oh, and again:

4. Sometimes you just need answers...

5. Or sometimes you don't need any at all 

6. Occasionally, it's not all about your ex...

7. And at other times it can take longer than anticipated

8. This works for some people 

9. Others, however, require a softer approach 

10. The hard truth hurts, but can ultimately prove helpful 

11. For others it doesn't come so easy or so quickly... 

12. But don't lose hope! 

13. If others can do it, you can too 

14. It really doesn't last forever 

15. As hard as it is, you have to keep reminding yourself that feelings change 

16. After all, nothing can last forever 

17. And before you know it, you would have found someone better even if it feels you'll never get over your ex 

18. See, it does happen

19. You just need to keep holding out hope 

20. Or if not, there's always this I guess... 

Whilst love truly can be cruel, it has been proved, time and time again, that human beings are incredibly resilient creatures. Not only are we capable of finding love again, but we really do come out of such trauma stronger than ever.

One couple has proven that true love is alive and well after they sealed their engagement 60 years after they fell for each other in high school.

For some, it can feel like love is something that only exists in the pages of books or on the big screen, especially when it comes to young whirlwind romances.

As life goes by, those we formed strong connections with during our youth can often fall out of touch because the stresses of modern life mean that staying in contact can prove difficult.

Thomas and Nancy are here to prove that even decades later, feelings can remain the same as they are due to be married 60 years after their flame was first lit.

The proposal was documented on TikTok by one of Thomas' colleagues, as the pair sealed the engagement at the airport surrounded by well-wishers.

Having started their romance in high school nearly six decades ago, they eventually lost touch after their initial relationship didn't work out.

The pair reunited last month and it was like no time had passed at all, because their feelings for each other remained the same.

The pair spent weeks talking to each other and Nancy eventually flew to Tampa to meet her former flame, and that's when Thomas got down on one knee and popped the question - leaving everyone in tears.

During his heartfelt speech, the loved up husband to be said: "My dear Nancy, it's been 60 years since we first met, 56 years since we first dated, 10 years since I last saw you, and 20 days since we began this.

"You have always been the one I've had a crush on, since your cheerleader days. It brings a smile to my face, it makes my heart skip a beat [to see you]. For the last three weeks, I have thought of you every day, every hour and have talked to you every night for hours."

Thomas went on to reveal that he is ecstatic to be able to hold Nancy in his arms after all these years and that her beauty "both inside and out" has always "captivated" him.

Thomas continued: "We'll make every day an exciting new adventure. I want to grow old with you, wake up in your arms every morning, share our dreams and aspirations, laugh and cry and support one another through thick and thin.

"I love you more than words can express, more than you can ever comprehend. I want to spend the rest of my life proving that to you and making you the happiest woman in the world. "

After asking the all-important question, Nancy, who was very emotional at this point, immediately said yes.

The witnesses in the airport weren't the only ones touched by this display of love, as people in the TikTok comments were clearly moved as well.

"Ladies, this is our reminder to never settle for less than THIS," one person wrote, as a second added: "He’s so articulate, genuine and sweet this is so beautiful."

Credit: TikTok Credit: TikTok

Let this be a lesson to all - that no matter how much time passes, true love will find a way!

Featured image credit: Thanasis Zovoilis / Getty

Heartbreak. It's a universal life experience, much like death, that we all have to go through at some point. In fact, death may be the most apt comparison because when you've been in a long-term relationship, a breakup sure does feel terrible, and permanent. Regardless of whether you were the dumper or the dumpee, you're going to feel an intrusive medley of emotions which not only makes you feel like your entire world is caving in but convinces you that you will never, ever experience that same depth of love for another person again. When in the throes of love, every moment you spend with your significant other feels headier than the next. As such, when it's all over, it's very easy to see your time with them as one dizzying collocation of perfect memories - reminiscent of montage scenes of great passion that are in every romance flick that Hollywood has produced. In reality, it is never that good. In between all the romantic dates and magical moments, there is inevitably arguments, aggression (passive or otherwise) and an overwhelming sense of stagnation and staleness. I mean, as hard as it is to accept, you would not have broken up if your relationship was reminiscent of a Nicholas Sparks novel. Whilst it's important to wallow, process and eat your feelings, you also have to accept that it does eventually get better. Yes, I know that people have repeatedly informed you of that fact, but I am here to once again assure you that every day will bring small improvements, all of which come together, allowing you to look back on the time you spent with your ex with fondness - unless, you know, it all ended catastrophically. In the meantime, however, whilst you wait for a new beau to materialise or for singleton to suddenly seem attractive again, here are 12 people on what helped them get through the toughest of heartbreaks.

1. Sometimes, everything changes because of a breakup 

2. True words of wisdom 

3. This Ask Reddit answer is perfect 

"Let yourself mourn over the loss. You have to let yourself be sad for a little while.

"This can vary for some people. It could be a week or a month depending on who you are. Don't keep the emotions bottled up. That's when they eat away at you and start taking away from your life. Cry yourself to sleep if you have to. Eat a whole container of Ben and Jerry's in one setting. Watch a lot of stupid stuff on Netflix. A father figure of mine growing up once told me that you have to morn the loss because the emotions are real and the best way to deal with emotions are to do just that, deal with them. 

Just a word of caution, [don't] let this morning period go on to long. If it goes from mourning to severe depression seek help. There is nothing wrong with talking with someone. Even if it's just a random guy on the Internet"

4. "Success is the best revenge" 

5. You could always, you know, "always upgrade" 

6. If not, things really do improve with time 

*Time heals all wounds *

"Time really does. One day you will look back on this day and think "life really sucked right then, but look how much better life has gotten". As long as you make positive improvements or at least put forward honest effort towards positive improvements then you will heal and life will become better and much easier. Time will make life easier. But the other steps will make time easier."

7. Repeat this to yourself, often 

8. Or you know, there's always this approach 

9. It's time to use up those holiday days... 

10. This Ask Reddit user recommends a little tipple...

"A good friend, the Legally Blonde movies, and some alcohol. While drunk we made a list together of all the reasons the relationship wasn't great (it was a terrible relationship and I was completely blind). 

The next morning I woke up sad and hungover, only to find a surprisingly long and well written list of all the terrible things I'd dealt with during the relationship. I mean, he wasn't an awful guy. He was somewhat emotionally abusive though, and he never cared for me as much I did for him. I guess drunk me saw some things I didn't, or at least I was more willing to admit then to myself after a few drinks. 

That list was... sobering. Snapped me right out of it."

11. And this Ask Reddit user recommends getting real angry 

"Get angry. Turn sadness into anger and hit the gym. Turn anger into determination. Change your life. Set goals. Then the anger will fade in time, and you'll be left better off than you started."

12. Finally, it's absolutely OK to do this for a while, because breakups are hard 

Whilst heartache of any kind is hard to bear, breaking up with someone who you have been committed to for years, and even decades, is undoubtedly one of the most difficult things that you can go through in life. But as these stories show, people do emerge on the other side - but it requires a lot of time, patience and strength.