They say you never forget your first love, and research backs it up—many people think about it frequently. A British study commissioned for the romantic film The Best of Me, reported by Express.co.uk, found that six out of ten people often reflect on their first love, with four out of ten admitting lingering feelings.
"More than any other relationship, first love prompts 'what if' questions about alternate paths," notes a film spokesperson. This can spark jealousy: 12% of respondents stay in touch with their first love without their partner's knowledge.
While these film-tied stats raise eyebrows, more rigorous research aligns. An OpinionWay survey for Meetic, polling 1,013 representative French adults aged 18+, revealed 32% maintain contact with one or more exes—rising to 48% among 18-24-year-olds and 46% of singles. Even in relationships, 27% chat with exes.
That said, reuniting with an ex isn't always unwise. Those nostalgic encounters often deliver a reality check: "How did I ever feel that way?" As Beyoncé sings in Telephone, "Once the mirror is broken, you can always fix it... but you'll always see the crack." In most cases (99%, by feel), it's truly over. Time to move on.
