"If equal affection cannot be, let the more loving one be me"—W. H. Auden Romantic love naturally craves reciprocity; yet not all forms of reciprocity are healthy. Some can, in fact, be toxic.

I got my kids a five dollar cat. All kids want to love something. Dogs, cats, the love here is nearly effortless, and reciprocity typically exists without question. Sometimes, I wish it were this ...