Your 13-Word Love Stories

Most of the essays we publish in Modern Love are about 1,500 words, and most of their authors could probably wax on longer if space and time were infinite. We wanted to see how readers would fare with far fewer words — 13, to be precise. Here are their Modern Love stories, in miniature.

Always laugh, especially after learning your husband took Ecstasy on your first date.

Jamie, Dallas

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Strictly avoids long walks on the beach. Lets me have all the covers.

Keira Mayock, Charlotte, N.C.

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A farmer’s wife is lonely from April to October. But what a view.

Charlotte McMullen, Ashville, Pa.

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No-strings-attached sex, except for two kids, a mortgage and a dog.

Rachel Engel, Derby, Kan.

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Walmart, car service, she repairs my heart daily. She is my love balance.

Kat Harris, Charlotte N.C.

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Smile, though your heart is breaking. Then key his new BMW. It helps.

Sheila, Los Angeles

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We both love craft beer and public radio. So we’re insufferable, but together.

Laura Fluty, Saint Peters, Mo.

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My dad calls my mom Love, almost as if that is her name.

Grace Gardner, Atlanta

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Subway commute. Missed connection. Craigslist ad. Reconnection. Could not spell burrito. Lost connection.

Stephanie Costa, Brooklyn, N.Y.

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He now splurges on organic mac and cheese. He must seriously love me.

Jade Thurston, Bellingham, Wash.

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When you accept his urge to fold both of your clothes after sex.

Luise Yang, London

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He picked me up hitchhiking and I married him. It didn’t last long.

Connie Kuhns, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

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Friend with benefits eventually becomes ex-husband who pays less arousing, more satisfying benefits.

Sarah McKittrick, Baltimore

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Our initial plan to be just friends lasted for less than a week.

Teresa Nield, West Hills, Calif.

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Fate = Joint baby shower at age 0, happily married 27 years later.

Lisa Eng, Menlo Park, Calif.

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I regret lending you that book more than I regret the terrible sex.

Maria Martens, Berlin

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How to find a partner: Secretly date while your friends are on vacation.

Sarah Ghoshal, East Brunswick, N.J.

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I was sad. He sent me dinosaur erotica. I knew it was love.

Meredith Schwartz, Atlanta

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Golda: Gold (Yiddish). Suits her; she’s like a pot of gold (after divorce).

Amy Schreibman Walter, London

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Never bring up similarities between your spouse and your mother-in-law during a fight. [Editors’ note: We’re treating “mother-in-law” as one word here, because we couldn’t resist.]

Marlene Fischer, Armonk, N.Y.

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She talks fast. She begins stories at their endings. Sorry, What? Sorry. Sorry.

Jack Ortiz, Madison, Wisc.

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How could you know Trader Joe’s parking lot would be our first kiss?

Leslie Dallas, Santa Monica, Calif.

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I’m definitely allergic to this dog. How do you choose, asthma or sex?

Maisie Breit, Agadir, Morocco

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Ukrainian village in Peace Corps, he offered me what I couldn’t resist: Wi-Fi.

Mary Offutt-Reagin, Terebovlya, Ukraine

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My dog would hide his clothes. Should’ve been my first clue. Dogs know.

Litsa Dremousis, Seattle

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I thought I was straight. She thought she was straight. We were wrong.

Rachael Ní Chonchúir, Ireland

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Met on Internet. Left my girlfriend for him. He left his. No regrets.

Eve Fritz, France

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Wartime. She hated writing letters, did it anyway. 70 happy years this October.

Roger Cochrun, Saranac, Mich.

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I have two former fiancés. One, sadly, is dead. The other should be.

Sara, New York

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Supported my crazy ideas, listened to me ugly-cry, stole my heart forever.

Rachel Waldman, New York

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Locked eyes with my baby nephew, he smiled. But maybe it was gas?

Rekha Mishra, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

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They said “no dating” in your first year of sobriety. They were right.

Caroline Grand, San Antonio, Tex.

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Age 5, when love means naming your pet goldfish after best friend Molly.

Melissa Rodman, New York

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Boy meets boy. Sparks fly. Boy kisses boy. Boy, oh boy, oh boy.

Boyd Davis, Kansas City, Mo.