We grew up watching fairy tales and gushy rom-coms, with the strong belief that The One was right around the corner, and we would meet them on a bridge overlooking a river at sunset, or bump into them head on in the street.
The truth is that nowadays, you’re more likely to meet them on Tinder or in your local bar – but that doesn’t diminish the fact they can still very much be The One.
1. They’ve seen you at your worst – and they still think you’re the best
Rocking three-year-old Primark flannel pyjama bottoms, spot cream on your face and chocolate dribble round your mouth, they’re still as attracted to you as when you’re dolled up in your 6-inch heels and LBD.
2. Your worst parts are their favourite parts
If you hate the bump in your nose, your sticky-out ears or your knobbly knees, then your partner in crime is sure to find them undeniably beautiful. HA! In your face Jimmy Smith from Year 8 Maths who called you Dumbo until college. You’ve finally found someone who thinks they’re adorable.
3. They don’t judge your eating habits
Not an eyelid in sight is blinked when you suggest ordering a curry even though you only went for a pub lunch three hours ago. You’ve said you’re on a diet and asked them for a gym membership for Christmas, but your lover is fully supportive of your choice to order the Black Death Chocolate Tower Pudding for dessert when you’re out to dinner.
4. They put up with your insufferable mood swings
One minute you’re happy, the next minute you’re crying over an IKEA advert. You don’t know whether you’re coming or going, but they love you for it anyway.
5. They support your tacky taste in films
OK, so maybe they want to watch the new blockbuster action movie that’s out, but you want to watch John Tucker Must Die and eat a four-pack of blueberry muffins.
6. They’re nice to your family – even the weird members
You’ve seen the poor soul under the wrath of weird Great Aunt Sheila and they still come home with you afterwards.
7. They like you even when you don’t like you
You’re having a hair day worse than the economic decline, you’ve got a spot the size of your head and your tights have holes in them. They still think you’re beautiful and will buy you wine to cheer you up.
8. They happily listen to your work dramas and pretend to care
They could care more about the life cycle of a fly than the fact Laura in Accounts gave you a dirty look or that Jim from Sales and Megan from HR are definitely seeing each other which is really unfair on Helen from Reception because her and Jim were together first and Megan has only been here about three months anyway. They nod, make encouraging sounds and at least attempt to repeat back the information you delivered when you accuse them of not listening.
9. They want to do spontaneous things with you
It’s a Sunday, you want to go strawberry picking and then come home and bake a pie even though both of your pie-baking skills end at having a Mary Berry cookbook lying somewhere around the house. They agree.
10. Whatever you’re doing together, you’re happy
Whether you’re at home on a Tuesday night watching Netflix together or sunning yourself in an exotic all-inclusive on the Mexican coast with an overpriced cocktail in hand, you’re as happy as can be and you wouldn’t be anywhere else. Except maybe Fiji. You’ve always wanted to go there.
11. You’ve planned your lives together
Arguments over future children’s names have occurred. You’ve sent potential engagement ring website links and ensured they’re flagged up as High Importance in their emails. You purposely look at flats completely out of your price range on Zoopla and imagine decking it all out with the finest accessories from Zara Home.
12. You get excited about buying them things
Before them, the only purchasing you got excited about was buying your new summer wardrobe from Topshop. Now, going shopping for them actually excites you, even though choosing their sizes in clothes causes a mini tsunami of fear to cascade through your veins.
13. Being drunk together is actually fun
You see couples in bars having shouting matches after a few too many gin and tonics, but you aren’t one of those couples. You ultimately become loved-up to the level where it’s bordering on disgusting, talk about future plans, do shots together and look after each other if you’ve had one too many.
14. You couldn’t picture your life without them
What would you do? How would you act on a date with someone else? Would anyone else like doing the weird stuff you two do? Would anyone else allow you to eat cheeseburgers in bed at 3am and wipe your greasy hands on them? Probably not. And you’d have to go through the whole Meeting Weird Great Aunt Sheila rigmarole again. It’s just not worth the hassle. You’re gonna stick with this one.
15. They love you for you
Rich, poor, short, tall – you love each other for exactly who you are and that’s it. Nothing else matters when you’re together and you honestly could not picture your life without this person. You want to be with them forever, mainly because you’re deeply in love with them, but also because you share their Netflix account and it’s working out to be extremely cost effective.
