Dear Confused Friend,

Thank you for being persistent with your question! It is difficult sometimes to figure out how you are feeling about someone, but also tough to determine what to do about your feelings once you do figure it out. Without knowing your ages, all I can advise is that the older you get, the less the age makes a difference in important relationship decisions.

Often, the best romantic relationships start out as friendships, but it sounds like your gut is telling you something. Either you are getting the sense this guy does not return your affections, or that he would not be open to hearing about them. My advice is to play it safe. Trust your instincts, try giving it some time, and don't be too impulsive. It sounds like you have a good frienship, and if you feel like he would reject you, maybe now is not the time for such open disclosure. Try dropping some subtle hints, and perhaps in time your instincts will be giving you a different answer.

Barb Wired encourages you to seek face-to-face counseling should you wish to discuss these issues further. Good luck!

BW