Legio, it's sad that you have come to this rather cynical conclusion so early in life, but I can assure you that it is possible to find real and reciprocal love.

I've been lucky to have loved and been loved, and been hurt by it too. At the time, the hurt often felt overwhelming - now, the experiences are fundamental to my character and to my profession as a writer. I'm married to a wonderful woman whom I know I both love and desire - I doubt if I would be the man she loves without my previous pain.

You're right to note that sometimes what we most desire is not necessarily what will be best for us, but wrong to think this makes it impossible to find love. True love has a habit of surprising us.

Like every other opportunity in life, you just have to be receptive to the possibility.