Sometimes You Just Want the Kiss at the End

There are moments when I want a complex, gritty story that leaves me emotionally stretched and thinking about it for days — Stephen King, brain-bending endings that have me reeling for at least a week.

And then there are moments when I absolutely don’t.

Sometimes I’m tired, sick, or overwhelmed. Or just quietly done with the day (more often than not lately). And in those moments, I don’t want realism — I want reassurance. A story that promises things will work out, even if there’s a messy obstacle course to cross first. A happy ending, so to speak.

That’s why I love romantic comedies.

Rom-coms don’t pretend life is easy. People still misunderstand each other. Timing is still off. Feelings still show up at the worst possible moment — or have trouble showing up at all. But underneath all of that is the belief that connection is worth the risk, and that going for it isn’t foolish.

Sometimes we want to root for hope without being embarrassed about it.

And the happy endings? I think we underestimate how comforting it is to watch two people choose each other at the end of a story. Their effort rewarded. The obstacle course conquered. The joy and hope we felt along the way — it’s valid. It isn’t silly, even if some people say it’s unrealistic.

In a world that often makes cynicism look smarter than sincerity, maybe leaning into love, joy, and happily-ever-afters isn’t such a bad thing.

Romantic comedies say: you’re allowed to want happiness. You’re allowed to believe in it. You’re allowed to enjoy the ride getting there.

That’s why I write them. Not because life is always light or funny — but because sometimes it helps to remember that things can be.

Sometimes you just want (need) the kiss at the end.