Maybe it's the autumn aura, locked in the redness of falling leaves, or perhaps it's my star sign in Libra, which flares up a bit more than usual during its season in October. Something is in the air for sure, brushing my spirit of a genuine romantic and leaving me speechless because I tend to think that in the XXI century romance is dead.
You probably know about all those old-fashioned love stories where yearning overcame all the headwinds – wars, sicknesses, or even mutual hate of families like in Romeo and Juliet. Yeah, that was left in the past a long time ago (for the sake of time reference, somewhere between the Fall of the Western Roman Empire and the COVID-19 pandemic). Now, love cannot even overcome the digital wall, namely the WhatsApp. Ghosting became the new love letter of our era, and its emotional charge is so strong that it kills all the remains of romantic Zeitgeist. Everything is low-maintenance and build upon the attitude of bare minimum. The small, charming gestures, like a smile from the other side of the café or leaving a napkin with a written compliment on its edge are considered a try-hard and embarrassing, because who would be so desperate to behave as such?
There are less and less love stories with an actual history. And while it is not a shame (honestly, sometimes extreme luck) to meet your soulmate on a dating app, it is kinda scary how people think that is the only place to find a partner. Would it not be more charming to strike up a conversation in between the bookshelves in the library? Or waiting in the line for a sandwich in the local bistro? Probably it would – but the fear of being laughed off and called a creep is overweighting the charm of this scenario, because no one does it like this anymore.
So next time, when you are sitting next to the most beautiful person on the train, ask: “Are you also traveling with this train?’’ and laugh. Download creativity, not tinder.
Rita Wiśniewska, a third-year European Law student