So, here it goes. I'm a 20-year-old guy currently serving in the army, and I've found myself in a bit of a predicament. There's this girl, let's call her Emma, who's also 20 and in my unit. We've been through some serious stuff together, and we've been each other's rocks more times than I can count.
From the moment we met, we just clicked. Our humor is so in sync that we can finish each other's jokes, and we've got each other's backs through thick and thin. Whether it's during intense training sessions or just the mundane day-to-day grind, we've always been there for each other. Honestly, she's my best friend here.
The problem? I'm falling for her. Hard. She's everything I could want in a partner—smart, funny, tough, and gorgeous. She's my type in every way, and every day, my feelings for her grow stronger. But here's the kicker: Emma's made it clear that she's not into relationships. She's more of a hookups kind of person, enjoying the freedom and lack of commitment. Meanwhile, I'm the opposite. I value relationships and long for something deeper and more meaningful.
I'm scared, Reddit. Scared of telling her how I feel and ruining what we have. Our friendship means the world to me, and I can't bear the thought of losing her because I couldn't keep my emotions in check. Every day I don't say anything, I feel like I'm losing my chance to ever be with her. But if I do confess, I risk making things awkward and potentially losing her as a friend.
Emma has never looked at me like anything more than a friend, at least as far as I can tell. But the way she laughs at my jokes, the way she leans on me when things get tough, makes me hope there's a chance she might feel the same way. Then again, maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.
I've thought about just swallowing my feelings and moving on, but it's getting harder and harder. I don't want to live with the regret of never telling her how I feel, but I also don't want to live with the regret of pushing her away.
What should I do, Reddit? Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you handle it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
TL;DR: I'm in love with my 20-year-old army buddy who's not into relationships. We're super close, and I'm scared of ruining our friendship if I confess my feelings. Help!