As someone who’s single, I often wonder about long-term relationships — especially those that last for years without leading to marriage.

I’ve seen couples who have been together for five, six, even ten years. They go on dates, meet each other’s families, spend holidays together… and yet, they’re still not married. No ring, no official plans. Just… together.

I’m not here to judge — everyone has their own timeline, their own reasons. Some are building their careers, some are waiting for stability, and some might just be figuring things out. I respect that.

But from the outside looking in, it does make me wonder: how long is too long to wait?

Is five years still considered normal in today’s world? Or does it depend entirely on the people in the relationship?

I guess as someone who’s never been in a serious relationship, I’m trying to understand — what makes people stay that long without taking the next step? Is it comfort? Fear of change? Or maybe they’re both genuinely okay with how things are?

These are just questions that cross my mind sometimes — not because I want to compare or criticize, but because I want to learn. To understand love from different perspectives.

Because maybe, at the end of the day, it’s not really about how long you’ve been together — but whether you’re both moving in the same direction.