afraid of losing someone who’s still here

Written by
InfiniteGoldShadowPleniluneInVancouverWithShame
Published on
Friday, 07 August 2026
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The story

To give some context, I think this feeling has been stuck with me for a long time. Three years ago, I ended a relationship that was very important to me, and since then, I’ve noticed that I compare almost everyone I meet to my ex. I know this is something I need to work on because I don’t want to see every new person through the lens of my past. But whenever someone starts treating me differently or becomes more distant, even after saying that things wouldn’t change, I immediately think: “my ex never treated me like this.” You might think, “but he treated you that way because he was your boyfriend, right?” The truth is that he was always kind and consistent with me, even before we started a relationship. He seemed sure about what he wanted, and that gave me a sense of security that I still remember.

Nowadays, I feel like many people struggle with emotional responsibility, and because I’m a sensitive person, I want to learn how to deal with these situations in a healthier and more mature way. I’m not that teenager anymore who felt everything so intensely and acted only based on emotions. I want to understand my own feelings better.

Recently, I started getting closer to someone. Before anything else, we were friends. At first, it was just a friendship where we would watch esports together and then go on with our lives. But after a few months, we became closer and things started to change. We ended up having an intimate night together, and after that, I felt like something changed between us. He said that nothing would change, but it feels like our conversations are not the same anymore. It feels like he doesn’t really want to talk to me anymore, he just replies, and that has started to frustrate me. Part of me wants to disappear before he has the chance to leave first, because I’m afraid of getting attached and ending up hurt. At the same time, I really don’t want to lose this person. I still want to get to know him better and understand who he really is. Something that made me feel insecure was seeing some texts he wrote about past relationships, especially about an ex. After everything that happened that night, I started wondering if I misunderstood the situation or if I’m just overthinking.

We still talk, but it doesn’t feel the same anymore. Sometimes disappearing feels like the easiest way to protect myself, but he has told me before that he didn’t like when I disappeared and that he missed me, I simply told him that I wouldn’t do that again and that I would handle things differently from then on. He understood, and after that, he started acting as if we were already in a relationship. I would wake up to messages like “good morning, my love” and voice messages where he would say my name in the morning.

So idk if I’m seeing things that aren’t there, if my fears are affecting the way I see the situation, or if I should accept that things have really changed.

Would you try to continue the friendship and see what happens, or would you walk away to protect yourself ?

Friendship Stories


Points of view

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FunkyWhiteWaterVermillionInAlentejoWithGratitude 4h ago

Oh boy, I've been there, too, where it feels like you're comparing everyone to a past relationship like it's the yardstick for every new connection...

ShiningTanLightIceCreamScoopInAccraWithSympathy 5m ago

Man, relationships can get so complex, right? It's like we're constantly juggling our own feelings and the vibes we pick up from others. 😕 Sounds like you're in a tough spot. Maybe it's less about comparing to your ex and more about figuring out what you really need now. Sometimes it helps to just lay everything out on the table with him, you know, have a real talk. That way, if he’s as unsure as you feel, at least you'll both be on the same page.