The truth is, we need the fictional romantic storylines because we are in 12-year relationships. Not in spite of them.
In the movies, the climax is the kiss. In real life, the climax is the Wednesday night where you are both exhausted, and they still make you tea without asking.
Instead, let the movie be the movie. Let the sweeping soundtrack and the dramatic rainstorm be entertainment. Then, let your actual relationship be your home.
I’ve been with my partner for twelve years. That’s 4,380 days of shared coffee mugs, broken dishwashers, and the specific sound they make when they have a cold. It is a deep, rich, often unglamorous love.