From John Truby’s The Anatomy of Story [Amazon]:
The central concept of love stories is quite profound. Love stories say that a person does not become a true individual by being alone. A person becomes a unique and authentic individual only by entering into a community of two. It is through the love of the other that each person grows and becomes his or her deepest self.
“A community of two”. What a great phrase, and as powerfully concise a statement as any that I’ve read on the topic. Now to watch some rom-coms… :-)