A friend insists she’s in love with a person she met online. They’ve been chatting for three months now, and are planning to travel together in January. After endless hours of my life spent in front of a screen, I still find the situation quite absurd. But the more I tried to disagree, the more persuasive her arguments sounded.

She said she’s met so many guys in person, but no one is like him. She said they communicate perfectly. From what I’ve known of virtual communication, it can be a sign of actual understanding, no matter how detached. Perhaps they have the time to learn important information about each other, before getting properly involved.
They may open up without risking much.

Not to mention that, when you only see a particular side of somebody, imagination can easily fill in the gaps. The result
might be the perfect partner- half fictional, half real.

In the end, there was only one question she couldn’t answer-
and quickly dismissed as trivial. I, however, remain convinced of
its uttermost importance: How can you fall in love with someone
you’ve never even…smelled?