When I was a little girl, I had dreamed of my true love. Yes, even as a little girl, I was a hopeless romantic. I grew up watching princesses get their princes and dreamed that someday I would too. Love seemed so mysterious, and yet, so inviting. I had longed for a love to call my own, so I, too, could live happily ever after.

In middle school and high school I had dated some boys who always fell a little short of my high expectations. None of them were quite like the prince I had been hoping for. Although I didn’t really know what love was, I knew it would somehow sweep me off my feet, and well, to put it frankly, I was still standing firmly on the ground. That is, until he came along.

It was like I hadn’t lived before him. Suddenly, the world was becoming a new place, and all of my doubts about love had vanished. He loved me; I know he did. He would take me out to fancy dinners, and buy me flowers for no reason. We shared the same passion for music, and even made music together. I connected him on such a deeper level than ever before, sharing secrets and staying up all night talking about life. I loved him like he was the long awaited for prince right out of my childhood dreams.

Everyone knew us as a couple, and I loved that. I spent a lot of time with his family, and he spent a lot with mine. In my naive little mind, it was almost like we were married without the label. I sometimes pretended we were. Life was beautiful, and I was happier than ever before.

He had just gone to college in the south when we first started dating, and now it was my turn to go to school. It ended up so that we were 13 hours apart. We flourished for the first year in our long distance relationship; each time we got to see each other was special. I easily imagined going through college and then life together. I was settled. But as it often is the case, life had a different idea.

He ended up breaking my heart, and I fell to pieces. I was hurt and confused, and felt like every dream I had ever had was crushed. I stopped believing in love. He was my soul mate, I had thought. And if he didn’t love me anymore, than love must have been just a myth.

I went on with life, and eventually got over him, though the sting always remained. But what I slowly began to realize was that love was actually real, just not in the way I had always thought. Through my relationship and break up, there had always been two people by my side. My two best friends. And through all of my highs, and all of my lows, they were there to carry me on to tomorrow. Even now, years later, they are still as present as ever in my life.

Soul mates don’t necessarily mean the prince from the fairytale. Sometimes, they are the best friends who would never hurt you, and help you realize that you love you, with or without anyone else. How can I ever feel lonely when they’re both just a phone call away? I can honestly say that they both love me just as much as I love them, and because of that, my life is complete.

The next time your heart gets broken, and it will at least once in your life, just stop and take a good look at everything. You are not alone. Your best friends will carry you through. That’s the realest love you will ever find in this world.