realising they weren’t a romantic match, they continued to meet up and co-work in cafes. if there is a decision that needs to be made in my life, i will use her as a point of guidance,” explains chiderah, who works in pr and as a model. ideas of what constitutes a ‘legitimate’ romantic relationship have broadened in the past few decades. “of course there are some needs that chiderah can’t fulfil but in terms of a partnership, the foundation …

but this iwd, i’d like to celebrate the phenomenon that is platonic intimacy. painfully shy, navigating the world of other people felt like a big and terrifying ask. i still feel lucky to have known that feeling of rightness and connection with my friends, and especially so to still feel it. it might not always be, but to have it centred there right now does not feel like any kind of consolation prize, but a gift. it has given me …

what if you followed through on that pact and actually married your best friend, not because of a ticking clock or because you actually fell in love, but because you realized that they would be the best person to grow old and raise a family with, even though you had no romantic or sexual feelings towards them at all? “platonic marriages are when people that are friends who are not sexually involved decide to make a commitment in marriage for …

according to the dictionary, the monogamous definition is having only one mate, spouse, or sexual partner at one time. to many people, monogamy means having a support system in your spouse or partner, someone you can rely on and spend time with; it means you can share your love with each other only, and that doing so is enough in your relationship. conventional marriages mean a husband and wife take a vow to be faithful, there for one another “in …

we use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. but the minute i arrived, she announced she was going into hospital for an operation and  i was left caring for her husband. not only did i end up cooking and caring for the man, but i had to keep taking him to the hospital to see her and he was reluctant to give me any petrol money. i’m on my …