In times of peace and stability, we are taught that romance is about grand gestures: surprise trips, expensive jewelry, and candlelit dinners at fancy restaurants. But in the face of profound, prolonged adversity, these traditional notions can feel hollow, frivolous, or simply impossible. This does not mean that romance is dead. It me

Our modern dating vocabulary often glorifies a sense of detachment. We're told that being "casual" is cool, that "no strings attached" (NSA) is a form of freedom. This narrative suggests that needing commitment or reliability is a weakness, a sign of being "needy" or "old-fashioned." In a world facing profound instability, and for women in places l