The animal kingdom has always amazed us. We were deeply touched when it was discovered that seahorses, penguins, and parakeets are the only ones that, like us, are capable of spending a lifetime with the same partner. We seem to share one quality to be proud of. For human beings, monogamy and fidelity are qualities equated to true and unconditional love.
The romantic ideal is to find your soulmate and make them stay by your side. Something only a few know is that this is an exclusive condition of some species of animals and we’re only trying to act like them. Staying with someone the whole life is, as Octavio Paz would describe in The Double Flame, a “voluntary slavery”.
This is the perfect and eternal story we see depicted in the illustrations of the Instagram account “3896days.” Through simple black strokes, the artist shows all the feelings and gestures of a couple who want to be together all their lives. From little games and actions that make up a formal relationship to the most passionate and bold encounter, all these serve as inspiration for the anonymous illustrator, who’s trying to convince us that true love exists.
Many people talk about that sparkle that sputters and goes out in a relationship, but these illustrations show that the flame can burn bright for a long time between two people. These simple strokes remind us that the warmth that special person shares with us is what keeps us by their side, and so, that’s what we miss the most when they’re gone.
The most important thing is to avoid monotony, have the capacity of spicing up your daily routines, and be surprised by your partner’s gestures. At least those are the bits of advice these drawings seem to teach you.
There are many actions that go unappreciated and overlooked like sharing an ice cream, helping your partner get dressed, or playing an innocent practical joke. We limit ourselves to believe that the important, honest signs of love are those that grand gestures that include a plethora of flowers and balloons. But the truth is that love goes beyond that, and these illustrations are proof of it.
Even during sex, a couple must reinvent and find new forms of intimacy. It can be done by playing sexual games, in which penetration is not the important thing, but the sensations that both share. Enjoying the path to climax is a unique way to connect with your partner.
3896days’ illustrations teach us how to be spontaneous, even in those moments when we think nothing else can surprise us. The thread that moves these images shows us that we can spend the rest of our lives with the same person; the only thing we must do is try hard to prevent the relationship from falling into gruesome monotony. So, every day will count as a new experience together.
If you want to see more illustrations from “3896days” you can check their Instagram profile.
Translated by María Isabel Carrasco Cara Chards
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