How often I have found myself using the phrase “the point of no return” when talking about relationships, without fully pausing to consider what it really means and the weight it carries. On the surface, it suggests a stage where going back is either futile or impossible. But beyond this literal sense, it encapsulates a deeper, more personal truth, i.e., moments that transform how we perceive people, places, and connections. Lately, this phrase has resonated with me in ways I cannot entirely put into words. It made me reflect on the often-silent, painful processes we go through before we reach that irreversible point.

Before they become something we call a “relationship,” connections start as associations or affiliations that gradually deepen. Over time, they transform into bonds we begin to nurture with care, trust, and effort. We invest our energy in them through conversations, thoughtful gestures, and shared experiences. Sometimes, it is simply about sitting beside someone and listening. Other times, it is about celebrating their wins, comforting them in silence, or remembering the little details that matter to them. These seemingly small, ordinary acts become the threads that quietly weave the fabric of a strong relationship. Ironically, it is much easier to explain how a relationship grows than to articulate how it frays. The unravelling is often subtle, for instance, a quiet neglect, an unmet expectation, or a moment of thoughtlessness.

Over the years, I have come to understand that healthy relationships are never one-sided. They are built on mutual effort, reciprocity, and an understanding of their fragile nature. Recognising that fragility is essential, it is what keeps us tending to them, especially when life becomes chaotic. A single moment of carelessness, i.e., a broken promise, a forgotten gesture, or a slip of the tongue, can cause more damage than we anticipate. And sadly, it is often with the people closest to us that we become the most complacent. We tell ourselves, “They know me. They will understand. They will come around.” So we forget birthdays, we miss important conversations, and we lose touch. And in doing so, we assume the bond is immune to decay. But it is not. Even the strongest relationships need maintenance – time, presence, and a whole lot of heart. The more we take them for granted, the closer they inch toward the point of no return.

And that point does not always announce itself. It does not always come with confrontation or dramatic endings. Sometimes, it arrives quietly, marked by growing silences, emotional absences, or that hollow feeling when you realise things are not as they once were. The most heartbreaking truth is that the relationships we hold closest to our hearts are often the ones most susceptible to reaching that point. Precisely because we assume they are strong enough to withstand anything, we forget that they, too, need tending.

So hold your people close. Treat them with the same care and warmth you did when the connection was new. Show up, speak kindly, and listen deeply. Do not store your love in the back of a closet, assuming it will still be there when you are ready to return to it. Because once a relationship reaches the point of no return, there is no undoing the journey. And that kind of loss leaves an ache you carry for a long time.