Getting to know someone used to take many forms: handwritten letters, phone conversations, in-person heart-to-hearts. Today, we text. We slide into D.M.s. Dating apps and social media have made it effortless to start a conversation. Still, it can be hard to know what exactly to say. We asked readers of the Modern Love column to share the early messages — the banter, emojis and wit — that made them fall for each other. — Kate LaRue
The texts below are from real threads that have been carefully excavated (screengrabbed) from the phones of readers. They’ve been lightly edited — and reanimated — for clarity and your enjoyment.
