I’m Michelle Callaghan, a first-year graduate student at Villanova University. This is our column, “‘Cat in the Stacks.” I’m the ‘cat. Falvey Memorial Library is the stacks. I’ll be posting about living that scholarly life, from research to study habits to embracing your inner-geek, and how the library community might aid you in all of it.

Close your eyes. Let Celine fill your ears. Embrace the 90’s synth and imagine that slow beat bouncing from the school’s gymnasium walls, and dance (but leave room for the Holy Spirit).

I just want you to know you are safe in my heart and my heart will go on and on.

It’s Love Week, guys, and we’re about to dig deep into our saccharine souls and wrap ourselves in the soft, warm blanket of fictional romance. Lonely? Not today. In love? Not as much as these kids. Swelling strings, musical numbers, tight camera angles, meandering confessorial monologues, slow mo, pink cheeks, unrequited tension—this is it. This is what you’ll never have in your life.

Heart eyes emoji.

Rose and Jack

Star-crossed lovers on a fateful voyage. Love at first sight. Sacrifice. Memories. Jack and Rose of Titanic are one of those staple relationships of my generation, because you never forget the first doomed love story that shatters your heart and throws you headlong into melancholic despair—and then gives you that Heaven Scene as consolation before Celine Dion serenades the end credits. Ugh, why am I doing this? I didn’t ask for these feelings. Here, just—just take this quote. Read it. I’ll be over in the corner crying.

Rose: I love you, Jack.
Jack: Don’t you do that, don’t say your goodbyes. Not yet, do you understand me?
Rose: I’m so cold.
Jack: Listen, Rose. You’re gonna get out of here, you’re gonna go on and you’re gonna make lots of babies, and you’re gonna watch them grow. You’re gonna die an old—an old lady warm in her bed, not here, not this night. Not like this, do you understand me?
Rose: I can’t feel my body.
Jack: Winning that ticket, Rose, was the best thing that ever happened to me. It brought me to you. And I’m thankful for that, Rose. I’m thankful. You must do me this honor. Promise me you’ll survive. That you won’t give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless. Promise me now, Rose, and never let go of that promise.
Rose: I promise.
Jack: Never let go.
Rose: I’ll never let go, Jack. I’ll never let go.

 (Ed. note – and let’s hope that this is a new cherished tradition akin to A Christmas Story and Elf marathons: Titanic‘s on all day and all night on Saturday (Valentine’s Day as if you didn’t know) on AMC channel, starting at 10am. Ever feel like you just won a ticket to first class!? Woohoo!)

Satine and Christian

Another doomed love. Subterfuge, secrecy, poetry, music. The forbidden love of Christian and Satine from Moulin Rouge (yes, Falvey has it. Yes, you should watch it.) is particularly adorable because they have a secret song.

Christian: “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”

Nala and Simba

Standard Disney power couple from The Lion King. Why is this couple so awesome? Well, they’re lions. Also, they were totally in love as kids, got separated for a very long time, argued a little bit, and fell right back in love. Plus, they’re the couple of Can You Feel the Love Tonight. Can you get more lovey than that song?

Simba: I can’t marry her! She’s my friend!

Leia and Han

Han and Leia of Star Wars. Classic. Could you have a fictional couples list without them? No. No, you can’t. Han, the impossibly adorable scoundrel, and sass-master Leia… they’re the couple everyone wants to be. Or maybe that’s just me.

Leia: I love you.
Han: I know.

Scully and Mulder

Mulder and Scully of The X-Files is perhaps a little retro, though no more retro than Han and Leia. The classic formula of opposites attract, Mulder and Scully generated all sorts of romantic tension for season upon season. And who needs to plan a Valentine’s Day date? Why leave the house? The entire series is on Netflix. What a time to be alive.

Mulder: The end of my world was unrecognizable and upside down. There was one thing that remained the same. You… were my friend, and you told me the truth. Even when the world was falling apart, you were my constant… my touchstone.
Scully: And you are mine.

Sigh. Well, now that I’m filled with warm fuzzies, I’ve got to know. What is your favorite fictional couple?

Article by Michelle Callaghan, graduate assistant on the Communication and Service Promotion team. She is currently pursuing her MA in English at Villanova University.