What is "In Love"?

In Love. What is it to be in love? I've been trying to figure that out for a while. People negelect to tell family and friends that they love them but throw around the phrase "in love" very casually. The same girl or guy may claim to have fallen in love 2-3 times in one month. How is this so? Isn't love supposed to be something precious? You're really IN LOVE 3 separte times in one month? I don't buy it. I don't even believe that two people can be in love after a month. It's a gradual process and truly falling in love is rare. I've had crushes before, I've had feelings for people before, but I've only ever been anything remotely resembling "in love" once. It was scary, it hurt, I tried to hide from it but it was there. Someone that you want to share your world with but at the same time you'd leave their world if it were in their best interest. In the book A Tale of Two Cities two guys love the same girl. She loves guy #1, guy #1 is thrown in prison and sentenced to death. Guy #2 still loves the girl and when he sees how sad the she is over her beloved's death sentence he takes his place so she can be with who she loves. Is this true love? I would say so. I believe when you truly love someone you want what is best for them. As for my love story I couldn't tell you where it's going. I want what is best for him. If him and I are supposed to be together we will. If not then I wish him every joy in the world and he the same to me. I guess that's another aspect of REAL love, even if you don't end up together you want good things for eachother because their wellbeing is still important to you.