Comments for Post #C27352

#C27352 Hi all, 28-year-old male here, working as a journalist. I've never been in a relationship, despite approaching three women over the years. Looking back, each experience taught me something different. The first was back in college on February 14, 2017. I was rejected, but honestly, it didn't affect me much. With time, I realized she wasn't really my type anyway. The second was a close friend from college. We spent a lot of time together, and many people assumed we were dating. Our friendship grew even stronger after college, especially during one of the toughest phases of my life in 2020-21, when she stood by me. Somewhere along the way, I developed feelings for her and proposed on December 17, 2021. She rejected me. It hurt, but her rejection pushed me to work on myself. Today, she has moved to another city, has a boyfriend, and although we no longer speak, I'm genuinely happy for her and wish her nothing but the best. The third one was different. She was a junior at work, about five years younger than me. We became very close. Many people around me, including my mentor and closest friend, warned me to be careful, but I ignored them. I cared deeply for her and often went out of my way to help her, including cooking her favourite meals. Eventually, on July 14, 2025, I confessed my feelings and was rejected. This rejection broke me in a way the previous ones never did. I haven't spoken to her since that day, yet she is still the first thought in my mind when I wake up and often the last one before I sleep. My friends tell me I was used and that I ignored several red flags. Maybe they're right. What hurts even more is that the whole situation also affected my relationship with my mentor, someone I deeply respected. My mother wants me to move on, settle down, and consider marriage. But the truth is that after everything that happened, I'm scared of relationships. A part of me wants to move forward, while another part still seems stuck in the past. This isn't really a question—just a confession. But if anyone has been through something similar and has any advice, I'd be grateful to hear it. Thank you for reading.