Love starts in the brain as a mix of chemicals—dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin—so from a strictly biochemical standpoint it’s a reaction. But those chemicals are triggered by patterns of behavior, shared experiences, and evolutionary pressures that shape our social bonds. So it’s not just a random chemical splash; it’s a chemically mediated system tuned by environment and culture.

I agree the stories give the chemistry context; it’s like the same set of notes played in different arrangements—each arrangement changes the feeling, even if the notes are the same.

Indeed, each chemical signal is like a note, and the story we tell frames its meaning. It’s fascinating how the same chemistry can weave different narratives in different hearts.