It’s common knowledge that love is a drug. Songs have been written about it, and scientists have proved it. The hormones dopamine and norepinephrine are most activated when in love, and ironically use the same neural pathways and induce the same enhanced feelings of bliss that one receives when doing any variation of cocaine. Being in love is like doing cocaine. However, at least when we fall out of love we don’t get horribly sick for a week, barely able to stand, eat, or exist. (Although, I guess that does happen for some depending on how bad the heartbreak was and how well equipped we are to handle our emotions). We know we’re not supposed to do cocaine..because of the consequences and horrible detriments to our health the drug will wreak on our body..but for the rush?? Some people find it worthwhile.
Just. Like. Love.
Love is beautiful, right? We all want to fall in love. We will do crazy things for love. Some people will rob a bank, go to prison, move across the country, adopt a new religion – all for the people they love. Some will even put up with being treated less than they know they deserve..all because of love. Love is to logic as kryptonite is to Superman – disabling.
Mylea knows this, yet she loves being in love.
Zafir makes her feel like she’s on a different planet when they’re together, like she can do anything at all. Who wouldn’t want to feel like that all the time?
When Zafir isn’t around though, when Zafir ignores her, when Zafir leads her on with his words and it is all revealed to be a lie – is the love worth it then?
We know that when we do drugs, it isn’t good for us. But we do it anyways. Every time Mylea spends time with Zafir, she knows she is hurting herself even more, because she knows deep down he will continue to leave her, and yet she still does it because sometimes love is worth the pain. But similar to drugs and love, eventually, the high becomes less strong, and you need more to be satisfied. In economics this is known as the, “Theory of Utility.” The price we are willing to pay for a product is based on how much use we get from it, how much value it brings us. The first time Mylea met Zafir it was like fire, it was electric, it was sparks – all the clichés, and so the first time he disappeared and stopped talking to her she wasn’t too bothered by it. But as his come-and-go-as-he-pleases attitude became the pattern, she realized she needs more of him to forget the pain she feels when he leaves. What does that sound like? Oh right, drugs.
Mylea was in a precarious situation because no one was taking away her love. At least drug addicts have to pay for their cocaine, and that shit is expensive. Hopefully the price will deter them from purchasing. Or maybe they’ll be fortunate enough for a loved one to step in and force them to go to rehab – where all harmful substances are cleansed from their system.
But Zafir? He was just around the corner. Mylea could easily turn around and walk right up to him. No one was stopping her, and no one was taking him away. She had access.
She had to make a decision. To either keep living the insanity of wanting someone who treated her like a 24hr convenience store, or to take away the thing that made her happiest. Neither of these options were favorable…but one was worse than the other.
So she decided.
22 and Counting 