Straight Up

you're the only person i like arguing with and you're the only person i don't mind losing to, and you're the only person i can't lose In a world where everyone is obsessed with romance and romantic love is seemingly the only type of love that matters, it’s hard to relate to most people when you’re someone who rarely experiences romantic attraction, if at all. The same can be said about having little to no desire to have sex, because after all aromanticism is usually affiliated with asexuality, although being aro does not always mean you’re ace and vice versa. It’s an alienating feeling and the worst thing is you can’t escape it. Love and sex is everywhere! It’s in the films we watch, the books we read, the music we listen to… and like, 90% of the people I know are in relationships and are doing it. Much like in the film, it creates a lot of confusion, not just with your gender identity and sexual preference, but with who you are as a person and your ability to love and create meaningful relationships. But the film does a stellar job in putting into words what I, someone in the AroAce spectrum, never could. There really is no reason for a movie that depicts an unconventional romance, devoid of romantic tropes and clichés to be incredibly romantic, but it is… and it works so well! Like, yes! Love IS the odd, intellectual conversations; it’s the banter, the similar likes and dislikes your own silly traditions, etc. Even without the flirting, courting, kissing, sex, and physical intimacy all together; even with the absence of the very things society associates and expects of love... it's love nonetheless and it's fucking beautiful!