Fifteen Moments We Knew We Were in Love

Our readers share their feelings, on loves old and new.

By Nerve Readers

When you date someone for a long time, there are many moments you realize that you’re in love. The most recent: he had his wisdom teeth taken out, and returned home with hamster cheeks packed with bloody gauze. I stayed up all night, watching him drool, making sure he didn’t choke, and fielding frantic text messages from his high-strung mother ("He’s still breathing? Put your hand in front of his mouth, just in case!”). The love part? I didn’t think of it as gross until I was telling a friend about it. — Amanda

After nine months on separate continents, two affairs, and some pretty long periods of radio silence, I saw him walk through the international arrivals gate at the airport. I was having one of those weird, cynical moments where I wondered if I’d even recognize him, if I even knew what he looked like, when he rounded the corner. I saw him before he saw me, and in a quiet moment before I ran over, I knew. — Kevin

My boyfriend and I met at last call at a bar in Greenpoint. We had a blurry, poignant conversation about Amy Hempel, then I gave him my number and sloppily kissed him before stumbling out the door. The next day neither of us remembered the other's name or face. So I was real nervous for our first date. I didn’t want to go. But, I’m glad I did, because I knew I was in love when he played "Jolene" on the jukebox. — Margaux

I was lying in bed with a guy I had been dating for about six months, watching The Net and spooning, when I felt so happy that I thought my chest might explode. So I decided I had to tell him:
Me: I need to talk to you about something.
Him: What’s up?
Me: Well, it’s not a bad thing. It’s just, I…
Him: Spit it out.
Me: I don’t really know how to say this. I… God, I’m really nervous. I just wanted to...
Him: I love you, too.
— Lina

My boyfriend and I had been living together for a few months, and things were going well. He's not really one to wear his heart on his sleeve, and is pretty mum on things in general. One night, I woke up to use the bathroom, but as I began to sit up in bed, was yanked back and held tight by my sleeping boyfriend. He didn't verbally tell me he loved me ‘til six months later, though that night, I knew I was someone he literally didn't want to let go of. — Cyndi

I know it sounds so cheesy, but I really did feel something when we first shook hands. I thought, "I have to kiss this person at some point in my life." It was at the loading docks of Beehive Beer Distributors. My boss introduced me to one of the reps, Anthony. He was one of the first people I met on the job. He was wearing corduroy pleated pants, a Free Beer polo, a Titleist hat, and had a Newport hanging out of his mouth. I took one look and thought, "I want this." We were married on October 9th, 2009. — Kristen 

It’s nerve-wracking to admit, but I didn’t know for sure until years after we were married and had children together. A group of friends had rented a big cottage for the week on a beautiful lake. It was a misty morning, and our partners and children had disappeared on errands and play dates, so the two of us were left alone for the day. It had been a long time since we had been alone together. We walked and talked and I felt a silly smile taking over my face. He’s the only person who can make me smile like that. — Sam

We’d known each other for years, just as friends. One summer day, after the first year of college, my friend and I drove over to see her. I got pretty drunk and boldly decided to kiss her. We went back to her dorm with my friends and a couple of her friends and I ended up puking everywhere. Even still, she let me wrap my arms around her and fall asleep. After I went home that weekend, something felt different. I knew what it was. — Anna

We dated for a few months, swearing when he left the country we'd just go back to our normal lives. My friends and his could see the inevitable train-wreck ahead. A month before he left, I broke down, inconsolable on a Sunday evening in his flat. After trying, and failing, to hold it in, he cried too. It was then that we realized we loved each other, enough to risk fucking up everything and try to stay together. Then we had amazing sex and were late for a Dan Deacon show. Two years later, we're together in one country, and I love him more and more as time goes on. Love doesn't conquer all, but it certainly helps. — Jessica