Losing a friend to love
The story
I'm not the one who's hurting here—at least, not the one that's hurting the most in this situation.
A good friend of mine has recently told me that they can't keep being around me because they've fallen in love with me. I've had a few instances of suspecting this during the past few years but I always brushed it off as me misconstruing things. No other friendship has compared to what me and this girl have. She's my best friend.
I grew up with very little close friends. Most of the time, I was the floater friend and so when it came to the rare occurrence of me developing really close friendships, I'd hold on to them like they were my lifelines.
Then I met this girl. It was 2022, I believe. We've been through a lot together, confided in each other during the darkest points of 2022-2025. And this year, I felt like our friendship was really developing as we'd see each other more often to hang out. We were initially online friends and circumstance has led us to living in neighboring cities.
She's one of the greatest people I know, genuinely. When I say that there's goodness in this world, she has proven that to me.
Earlier, she texted me earlier saying that our friendship has been weighing on her because she's known for a long time that she's developed feelings.
I told her that I understood if she's taking a break from talking to me or if she's completely cutting me off because clearly, if I keep being friends with her, she'd be operating at an expense. Being friends with her will only hurt her even more. I cannot be more than a friend even if I tried. And I'm feeling like I'm losing someone who's been an integral part of my support system. I don't want to lose her but I know it's selfish of me to want to keep being friends because her needs are clearly not being met in this situation.
She's said that nobody has ever understood her the way I do and that she's struggling to see anyone else who'd reach my level of understanding of her. And objectively, I know someone else is out there that can be just as good a friend as I was to her. But she likes me. And there's nothing I can do about this.
I know that this is something she has to deal with internally, that maybe time will bring us back together. I cannot stop her and I only want her to have peace of mind even if it's at the cost of cutting me off.
But she's my best friend. I'm in a dark spot right now and my support system is literally just 3 people including her and she's the person I'm closest to. Lmao not the best, I know.
I know what will happen when she does reply to my text. I just hope it won't be goodbye.
Stories in the same category
Points of view
i gotta say, your whole perspective on this seems a bit melodramatic for what's going on. she's got feelings for you, sure, but acting like it's the end of the world isn't really helping anyone is it??? people grow apart all the time for various reasons. maybe instead of just taking everything at face value and over-analyzing it, you could consider talking more to her openly and see if there's some compromise or middle ground here rather than being fatalistic. relationships are dynamic; they change and adapt, so maybe give that a shot???? also, relying solely on three people as your support system might not be the healthiest approach anyway? you might wanna expand that network a bit regardless of what happens with her...
Wow, this definitely sucks. Losing a best friend is like getting punched in the gut, especially when it's out of your control. Honestly, you're doing the right thing by considering her needs too even though it hurts. It's tough as hell but sometimes space is what's needed for both sides to figure things out. I'm hoping you guys can find a way back to each other eventually or at least find some peace in all this mess 💔
it's clear you've handled this situation with a lot of empathy and understanding, putting her feelings first even when it's tough on you; maybe exploring some new activities or hobbies could help expand your social circle and offer some healing, while also giving her the space she needs.
sounds like a tough spot to be in, i feel for ya; it's never easy when feelings get tangled up like this. you're clearly trying to do the right thing for her and that's commendable. but i'm curious, have you thought about how she might feel if things were flipped? sometimes understanding both sides can help ease the transition. hope you find a way through that works for both of you 🤞
Honestly, it sounds like you're more focused on your own victim narrative than finding a way to move forward; you say it's selfish to keep being friends but isn't it also selfish to make this all about how bad you feel about potentially losing her?
sounds like a really tough spot to be in, losing someone who's been a rock for you. maybe it’s worth considering if there's another way to stay connected with her that doesn't cause either of you pain? have you thought about proposing an occasional check-in or having some boundaries in place to manage feelings while preserving the friendship? 😕
It sounds like you're dealing with a tough situation, but maybe taking a step back could give you some clarity. Instead of focusing on what might happen, try to see this as an opportunity for both of you to grow individually. Sometimes things have a way of working out in ways we can't predict, and if it's meant to be, you two might find a new way to connect down the road.
Man, this is such a tricky situation!!! It’s like you're caught between wanting to hold on and needing to let go for her sake. It's tough when someone means so much, but her feelings change the dynamic completely. Maybe it's not about cutting ties forever; space might just offer clarity?? Sometimes friendships evolve into something new entirely given time so who knows what the future holds? If anything, this could be an opportunity for both of you to grow and maybe even redefine what your friendship looks like later on!! 🤔
hey, i'm really sorry you're going through this. losing a friend over feelings can feel pretty isolating, especially when they've been such a big part of your support system. but remember that sometimes giving space can lead to clarity for both of you. it might shake things up now, but it could also potentially lead to a stronger connection down the line if that's what fate has in store 🌟 just try to stay open to whatever comes next and take care of yourself too!
Honestly, dude, it seems like you're blowing this way out of proportion. People catch feelings; it happens! 🤷♂️ You're acting like losing one friend is the end of the universe, but you gotta remember that friendships evolve all the time. Instead of just assuming everything's downhill from here, maybe try having a real convo with her about what both of you need moving forward? There's probably more ground here than you've considered and who knows...maybe you'll find a way that works for both without making it so dramatic! Also, diversifying your support system should be a priority regardless so you're not putting all your emotional eggs in one basket next time.
damn, what a tough situation you're in. honestly, it sounds like you both value each other a lot; maybe if you guys talk openly about finding some kind of middle ground, it could actually lead to a different, healthier dynamic. ever considered getting support from someone who’s neutral in this?
While I see your concern for her well-being, the whole notion that you need to sever ties to protect her seems a little extreme, don't you think???
man, this situation's rough, no doubt, but maybe there's a silver lining here? 🤔 sometimes hitting a snag with someone close can be an opportunity to reevaluate and strengthen other areas of life. you might find that taking this time to focus on yourself could lead to personal growth or new connections that don't hinge so heavily on one person. it's great you're thinking about her needs; just remember to check in with yourself too. who knows, maybe down the line you'll both come out of this even stronger... either together or apart.
It sounds like your friendship has been incredibly meaningful, and I think it's important to acknowledge that sometimes friendships do evolve into something different! not necessarily lost forever but transformed based on circumstances..