I Thought You Were Different
Different from who?
That was the iconic line between Dakota and Colin in the car scene from the music video. Yes, Taylor Swift just released her latest single, Patient Zero. If you haven’t watched the music video yet maybe give it a watch before reading this.
In the story of the music video, Taylor once fell for the charm of a man. She saw his “halo,” only to eventually realize there was something darker hiding behind it.
But if you’re sick of him, I got you. I was Patient Zero.
Now, when the next woman, Dakota, finds herself going through the same thing, Taylor can simply say:
“I’ve been there. I know exactly what you’re going through.”
Watching the music video felt almost like watching a movie. And I couldn’t help thinking about the lyrics:
I bet he burst into your life like fireworks
I bet he even said “I love you” first
The fireworks imagery feels both magical and destructive. After all, they’re explosives just like the man who seems amazing to everyone else but turns out to be harmful to his partner.
What if sometimes we are not the first person to love someone?
We are just the first person to discover who they really are.
Maybe there were women before us who loved him, and maybe there will be women after us who do too. But sometimes, we become the person who finally sees the pattern.
And when another woman comes along, we recognize the signs. We know the charm, the halo and what might be hiding behind it.
Get Sabila Maria’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
I know he charmed your family and friends
And you thought it’s ’cause he loves you
But it’s ’cause he loves how everybody else loves him
His charm was part of the manipulation, by showing everyone else a different side of himself, he made it harder for she to see the signs or for anyone to believe her.
The lyrics also hint at narcissistic traits, where being admired matters more than genuine emotional connection.
Ever heard of a guy who’s afraid of losing his fans? Yeah, this is what it looks like.
I know it seems like he shines so bright
But he’s bathing in your reflected light
On a free solo social climb
He’s not in it for love. He’s just using the relationship to climb higher.
I can understand why it’s hard to warn a woman when she’s drunk on love. So we tell her, “Don’t fall for him too deeply.” Not because we want to tell her what to do, but because we know what it feels like to find out too late.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as women protecting women.
Patient Zero isn’t necessarily the beginning.
They’re simply the person we can trace the beginning back to.
