It is sometimes hard to distinguish between a platonic friendship and love. It is especially hard when one party feels the friendship and the other feels love. Friends can certainly love each other. But it is when a more sensual love enters the friendship that things can be a bit more complicated.

It is imperative to understand that if you are in love with someone who considers you a friend, you cannot force him or her to feel the same way toward you. Love is not a forced emotion. People either love or they don’t.

Friendship is the blessing of having people you can spend time with. People who share some interests with you, and whose company you enjoy. A friend is someone you can pick up the phone and call once a year to check in, say hello, and let them know you’re thinking about them. It doesn’t have to be a daily, weekly, or even monthly communication. But it’s someone you know will always welcome you into his or her life with open arms.

Love is friendship with a bonus. It is having that special friend that you want to spend every waking moment of your life with. It is not being able to imagine your life without that person. They are your best friend, your confidant, your soul mate. Love is being able to identify that one person you would want to grow old with, to spend the rest of your life with. You share the same interests, and support those that differ from your own. You wake up thinking about that person, and go to sleep dreaming about them.

Friendships may come and go. Love is forever.