Felt like I had to honestly. Bit of backstory for this. We met about...8-10 years ago(I suck at remembering dates) on an online forum and hit it off pretty well. At the time, I was dating my first ex(whole other story for another day) and felt lonely due to his behavior. So I confided in the friend and eventually, he started developing feelings for me. I didn't reciprocate since I just felt like it'd be wrong due to me not being single at the time. I did end up dumping the guy after more stuff happened and kept in touch with the friend. We were really close, but his feelings never really left. We tried dating at one point, but I realized that he was really clingy. Like really clingy. He'd message me often whenever I'd be out with friends, family or just doing my own things. I'd tell him to keep himself distracted with other things. But even then. We decided to call it quits on the dating and try to remain friends. I don't know when it started for me, but I noticed myself just getting irritated with him whenever he'd message me. Just really really irritated. So I started keeping our conversations short. At one point, he even confessed that he had no one to talk to while I was away. I think that was the final straw for me. Just now, once again, he messaged me and I decided to be honest. Told him that the friendship had just run its course and people drift apart sometimes, even when they don't want to, that it happens. He talked about how he gave me space, that he knows I'm going through some things, but that I'd yell at him whenever he'd message(I didn't. I'd just say I was busy or unavailable). Kind of the "I'm so nice, why are you being so mean to me?". I simply wished him happiness in life and that things went well for him, and that was that. I don't hold anything against him. We did have some fun times, but I guess things just happened.

@kegs: I certainly hope so. He isn't necessarily a bad person, he just has things he needs to work on, like I do too.

Yes it kind of sound toxic :/ like he want to keep you no matter what.... it must been very exhausting at some points

@Miss Sandman: Oh, it was. It's why I started talking to him less and less.


@Bioshock: Thinking on it... I think he just wanted to try getting back together, which isn't something I was willing to do.


@Priestess of Pie: Yeah. Probably won't be easy for him, but it's necessary.

@Bioshock: Yup, he said that.

@LordLucre: it is always hard to end a relationship especially a long standing one. Give yourself time to grieve the ending of a relationship no matter the terms. It seems your friend was looking for something you couldn't offer. That doesn't mean you or he is a bad person or needy, just misguided. I'm glad you were able to set healthy boundaries. Now is your time to maintain those boundaries. For me, any time something begins to cost me my peace of mind, the price is too dang high. Should you wanna chat about it feel free to hit me up.

@LordLucre: good plan. Don't let anyone or anything steal your joy!

@Kingslowpoke: That's horrible! I hope you're okay...