It truly depends on what you refer when talking about LOVE.
You see, LOVE, in the Hollywood sense, is often misinterpreted with ATTACHMENT.
I'll try to explain the difference...
A mother truly LOVES his child - it is in her inner nature to do so, and more often than not, she has no expectations. She gives without expecting something in return.
A boyfriend who is ATTACHED to his GIRLFRIEND may believe that he is in LOVE with her, yet that emotion might be entirely different from what LOVE actually means.
The boyfriend who MISSES his girlfriend in a very intense way might be attached. The boyfriend who is JEALOUS/POSSESSIVE with his spouse IS ATTACHED.
The boyfriend who has BIG EXPECTATIONS from his girlfriend IS ATTACHED.
The boyfriend whose HAPPINESS is dependent on the AFFECTION of his girlfriend is ATTACHED.
It goes the same with absolutely every aspect of our lives - Not just personal relationships.
You can be ATTACHED to your PHONE, FRIENDS, PETS, SUBSTANCES, and EVEN FEELINGS.
There's a very very very thin line between LOVE and ATTACHMENT, a line that people often can't understand.
The easiest way to figure out if you LOVE someone/something or you are ATTACHED to it is to ask yourself the following questions:
- If this person/object/feeling/etc would be GONE, will that tremendously affect me?
- Am I expecting to gain BENEFITS from this person/object/thing?
- Would I still continue this relationship/habit/thinking if I had a BETTER SOLUTION?
Attachment is the root of misery - You can have things in life without being attached to them, but loving them for what they are.
If a person leaves you and you feel terrified, it is because you are attached.
If you truly love a person, letting him/her go is a sign that you TRULY LOVE that person because you realize that's better for him/her. You realize that if a person LOVES YOU BACK will come back.
And yes, you can continue LOVING a person even if he/she has left you.
That is the difference!