He had a tiny crush on her and if he was truly honest with himself, he might admit that his crush was a little bigger than that. He couldn’t help it. She was a beautiful woman that came with all the womanly parts and all.

It didn’t start out like that. He was aware that she was an attractive woman. How could a movie star not be? He treated her like how he would treat any other senior in the industry, but never once tried out one of his patented love struck act on her. She was much too sophisticated for that.

She was mesmerizing though, and he couldn’t help but be captivated by her. She streaked through his mind every hour, every minute, every second, every moment. She took his breath away, and his ability to daydream without thinking of her.

As the years passed, there were moments where he looked at her with startling clarity, and times where he couldn’t make heads or tails of this confusing woman he had come to love. Over the years, he played so many different roles in her life; he wondered which one he truly was. He was protector and defender, companion and friend, a little more and a little less.

He would be the first to defend her from bugs and manhandling guests.

The first to offer her his seat, a dry towel, a bottle of water.

The first to offer a warm hug or a high five.

The first to celebrate her victory and the first to console a loss.

And the last to stop loving her.

Eventually, he realizes that he does love her. He didn’t love her like how he would love a lover but like how a brother loves his sister. He loved her like how family would each other because that’s what they were and what they always will be.

When the attraction finally faded, he looked at her with new eyes. Beneath the polished appearance and glamorous façade was a woman who hopes, fears and laughs in abundance. He had an epiphany and realizes for the first time that he was drawn to this woman not by appearance but because she was a woman with quiet strength and dignity, a person without fear of judgment and a person without judgment.

Love is constantly evolving. The way we love changes, how we love changes, the type of love we experience and give changes.

Eros, agape, philia or storge. It never really mattered. You can’t put a name to love. You can only experience it.