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(Names changed to protect the innocent.)
You know how you can get saddled with a burden you never saw coming? I got that right now.
I have a friend, Nancy (she doesn't do DU). Nancy is friends with a couple of cool people, one of whom she used to date. They're all good friends, hang out a lot, help each other out, shop together, etc. Basically, Nancy thinks of this couple as part of her family.
Only problem, she says, is that she's gone and fallen for Greg. They have a lot in common, Nancy really likes hanging out with him, they think alike, hold similar views. It's a case of, maybe if they'd met under different circumstances, they'd be together.
Nancy doesn't want to break up Greg's relationship; even though Greg is often unappreciated and less than happy, she never wants to be the reason for anyone's failed relationship. She's not trying to bring about a relationship with Greg. But she can't help herself - she really loves the guy, and has for the last couple of years.
I've heard how much it hurts her not to be able to say anything past the already-close "I care about you" comments and things to show Greg she's there for him no matter what. She lays awake at night thinking of two things: how she feels about Greg, and how much she wishes she didn't.
She wants to know how she can cope with this without resorting to booze (she kids) or getting really depressed. She's said she doesn't even WANT to love him, but even though she's faced her feelings, acknowledged she can do nothing with them at this point but be as great a friend as possible, and put them away to continue on with daily life, those feelings keep coming up more and more often.
She's afraid she's going to crack. The stress is really getting to her.
I don't know what to tell her. Unrequited love sucks (believe me, I know), but she doesn't know if this is a case of "another time, another place" or "never happen". She knows that nothing will happen while Greg is involved with her former girlfriend (they're bi), and she fears losing her two best friends if Greg knows her feelings and his girlfriend finds out.
What do I say?
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