What’s your love and relationship problem?
Ask Meredith at Love Letters. Yes, it’s anonymous.
What’s on your mind about new relationships, long marriages, dating, love, loss, complicated friendships, etc.? Submit your letter by using the anonymous form, or email [email protected].
I’m just wondering … I feel something with a female friend, but I assume neither of us want to acknowledge it because we’re afraid that our friendship will be affected.
Part of it is that she lives in New York and I live in Boston. I know it’s not that far, but it’s still complicated to start a relationship with that distance.
Lately, though, I can’t help but feel like our feelings have gotten much stronger, as we’ve been texting for multiple hours a day, and calling to say good morning or goodnight every day. I’m starting to feel like I should tell her, but I don’t know if it’ll ruin the friendship.
I’ve tried telling my guy friends here, asking for advice, but … unless they’ve been in love they don’t know what it feels like, so they tell me not to do it.
What do you think I should do? Should I tell her? I was going to take a train out next month to surprise her for her birthday. Should I tell her then?
– Wondering
I think it’s time to ask, as opposed to tell. Instead of saying, “I’ve fallen madly in love with you,” how about, “Does it feel like something’s different between us?”
Then you can say, “I’m developing some feelings but don’t know how to proceed. Can we decide together?”
Or something like that. Basically, you need to know she reciprocates because the “will we or won’t we” question is taking up a lot of space in your brain. If she’s not interested, you’ll probably want to dial back the contact, and make everything less couple-like. You’ll need to make room for other crushes, dates, etc.
If she does feel the same, you’ll still need to discuss opinions. You’re not ready to promise her the world, so don’t. If you’re not sure what you want to do about these feelings, that’s OK. I do fear a big confession implies you want it all.
As for train/birthday plan, please consider whether she’s someone who likes surprises. She could have plans with friends. She could have a date!
Sometimes it’s nice to know someone is coming. I would prefer hints – so I can be prepared.
– Meredith
Readers? Tell? Have a plan/proposition? Ask for ideas? Do this as part of a surprise journey?
What’s on your mind about new relationships, long marriages, dating, love, loss, complicated friendships, etc.? Submit your letter by using the anonymous form, or email [email protected].
Here’s the thing. Your friendship is going to change one way or another. Either something happens between you two or one of you finds something else. … Friendships cannot survive unevenness, that is, one person pining away for the other while the other one has purely platonic feelings.
I’d be careful about big gestures like surprises, though, and big declarations. But I do think you have to tell her something feels different.
Ask Meredith at Love Letters. Yes, it’s anonymous.
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