Should I, a 26-year-old man, move on and let her, a 22-year-old woman, go?
I met her (22F) on a dating app, and we both were new to relationships. For two weeks after matching, we texted constantly from morning until night before finally meeting in person. She was quite anxious, but we had a great connection and met up the next two weekends. Everything seemed wonderful; we had a lot in common, expressed how much we meant to each other, and were constantly on each other’s minds. When Valentine’s Day arrived, we hadn’t planned to meet, but I wanted to clarify if we considered ourselves in a relationship. She felt the same way, agreeing that we didn’t need an official label yet because we were already partners in our minds. Later that evening, she began feeling very anxious about our planned meet-up the next day. Knowing she struggled with anxiety, I tried to reassure her. However, she eventually decided against meeting and had a meltdown that weekend, which led to a hospital visit due to nausea caused by her anxiety. She expressed that she wasn’t ready for a relationship and needed some time. I respected her need for space and checked in occasionally. One day, she reached out in a better mood, and I mistakenly thought things were returning to normal. We even discussed future plans together, but when I asked if we were back to how we were before, she hesitated. She said she had misunderstood her feelings and wasn’t sure if she liked me romantically. While she enjoyed our time together, she was concerned that my feelings would complicate a friendship. I assured her I could manage a platonic relationship, but she ultimately decided it was best for both of us to stop communicating completely. My attempts to reach out were met with the same response: it was too overwhelming for her. Eventually, she blocked me, but on a neutral note, stating she couldn’t keep talking. I still care for her deeply and, while I understand some might suggest I respect her wishes and move on, I can't help but wonder if she believed I couldn't handle being just friends. Over the five weeks we communicated, we never crossed into intimacy, and I genuinely feel I could remain a friend without wanting anything more. I just want her back in my life; intimacy isn't necessary for me. What should I do now? Has anyone faced a similar situation? Should I let her go and try to move on? This is my first experience with these intense feelings, and I find myself wanting to keep trying, knowing it might amplify her anxiety. I believe I could show her that a friendship without romantic entanglements is possible. I’m puzzled by how she could have felt so strongly but then decide to cut off contact. I don’t think all her feelings vanished; she just realized they weren’t romantic, and I’m okay with that. Thank you for your thoughts.