It is a highly personal, earnest body of work that was created in tandem with my current romantic relationship. While dating, I struggled to reconcile disparate feelings, gut reactions, community knowledge and unique experiences. I wanted to resist cynicism while holding onto my highest ideals. I created three archetypes of myself and, like an author listening to their characters, I let them show me different ways of seeking love. These selves embody core tensions in the work: practicality vs desire, prioritizing romantic love vs investing more broadly in life, and giving love every chance to succeed without compromising one’s truest self.