As the honeymoon phase dwindles for married couples, the real work kicks in.
With any relationship, the significant others involved need to maintain the love that brought them together in the first place.
Although it's never easy, actively communicating and listening to one another to ensure the longevity of a romantic partnership is well worth the effort.
That doesn't mean people don't consider coulda shoulda woulda alternatives when the going gets tough.
Strangers contemplated about different scenarios when Redditor DetectiveBennett asked:
"If you had to marry the first person you slept with, how different would your life be?"
For some, the outcome worked in their favor.
Happily Ever After
"I did. We just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary."
– Silly-Resist8306
Outlook Is Good
"I'll tell you in a few years time."
– WarmTransportation35
"An optimist!"
– Dvorak_Smells
Hitting The Jackpot
"I actually did marry the first person I slept with. She just turned out to be really cool 🤷🏻♂️"
– reptard77
"Same here! Together 14 years today actually and he's my best friend."
– spoopyelf
For others, however, it would've been a huge mistake.
Dodging A Bullet
"Given that the first woman I slept with is now a lesbian, I’d either be someone’s beard or, more likely, still trying to recover from a divorce."
– monkeymanlover
Mr. Wrong For Her
"The first man I slept with turned out to be gay. So that’d be a weird marriage. I ran into him recently, and he invited me over. His house is so filthy for an almost 40-year-old that it made me gag. So I guess I dodged two bullets with this one."
– Ok_Anywhere_2216
True Colors
"Terrible. She recently reached out to me after 25 years because she wants to cheat on her husband."
– drallafi
"How did that message even go lol"
"Hey I'ts been a while damn 25 years, how has life been treating you? Me I'm married and honestly looking to cheat, you down?"
– JagmeetSingh2
"Nah I don't have any social media so she got my number through a mutual friend from high school. She lives in a different state and she was in town to bring her daughter to check out Universities in my city. She framed it as, 'Hey, wanna catch up?' I thought sure, why not? Well... I found out why not."
– drallafi
There's no way to predict what the future holds.
Gone Too Soon
"I would be a widower. She was hit by a truck when she was 18."
– Thsaxd
There would've been a unsatisfying ripple effect.
Incompatible Family Members
"I'd be in prison for murdering my mother in law."
– MaxCWebster
"Q: What's the definition of mixed feelings?"
"A: Watching your MIL drive off a cliff in your brand new car."
– Nachtjaeger68
Different Paths
"She is a librarian in Norway. I am a lawyer in America."
"One of our lives would be drastically different."
– Nebraskabychoice
"He stayed at home. She went away. What more can I say?"
– ksmrgl
Epiphany
"Wait, you mean you don't have to marry the first person you sleep with? oh man."
– hunnyjo
I know for a fact my life would not be as fulfilling and full of the amount of laughter I have now with my husband.
If I ended up tying the knot with the first person I ever slept with, I know for a fact I'd be miserable.
It's amazing how having lust for someone can blind you, preventing you from having a discerning view of the quality of a person who is servicing a need in a consensual, spontaneous moment.
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social
breast cancer GIF by Baptist Health South Florida 
Teddy Bear Doctor GIF 
feeling neck skin GIF 
praying GIF