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Respect his comments and give him space

Submitted By: The Kurfew Krew
Date: September 23

In Answer To: What should I do? (Shunned?)

Thank you for sharing your story—it takes real courage to express your feelings, and you should be proud of yourself for taking that step. It’s not easy to open up to someone, especially when you care about them deeply, so give yourself credit for being brave.

At the same time, it’s important to respect his response when he said he’s not interested in that way. His "sorry, but I'm not like that" is his way of setting a boundary, and while it’s hard to hear, it’s important not to push further. Continuing to pursue someone after they’ve expressed disinterest can unintentionally make them feel uncomfortable, and you want to avoid crossing that line.

It sounds like he may be pulling away a bit, possibly because he’s unsure how to interact with you after your confession. If he’s not responding or avoiding you for now, it’s best to give him some space. People need time to process their emotions, especially when they’re surprised or unsure how to handle a situation.

If you’re open to keeping the friendship and you feel comfortable moving past the romantic feelings, you could send him a message to clear the air. Something like:

"Hey, I know that you're not interested in me that way, and I totally respect that. I also wanted to let you know that I’ve always appreciated our friendship, and I hope my honest comment didn’t damage that."

This way, you’re showing him that you understand and respect his boundary, while also giving him the opportunity to reconnect as friends if he feels comfortable.

Remember, there are "plenty of fish in the sea," and just because this one didn’t work out doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you or that you won’t find someone who shares your feelings. It’s easy to get fixated on one person, but not everyone will feel the same way—and that’s okay. The right person will appreciate both your honesty and your openness when the time is right.

For now, focus on taking care of yourself and giving him the space he needs. If the friendship resumes, great, but if not, don’t be discouraged. You’ve already shown how brave you are, and someone else will see that in you too.

Questions In This Thread

• What should I do?
  Shunned? -- October 10
  • Respect his comments and give him space
    The Kurfew Krew -- September 23

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