Hey guys. So the ex romantic partner i had in my life has returned and when he left my ocd was terrible. Now he’s back after a year and a half and he told me when/if he came back into my life it would mean that he’s over me. Now he’s saying and doing things/ hinting that he’s still interested in me at least sexually. I feel like he doesn’t respect me and sees me as a object rn. It completely put me off of him. Im now torn on how direct i should be about not wanting anything romantic to happen. Cause every time i shy away from flirty jokes it seems like he becomes distant. I still think of him as one of my closest friends and i want it to remain that way… but if i tell him I’m not interested in that way I’m afraid to lose him. I don’t have any friends rn but 1 person (besides this app) and him and it is pretty lonely. He smothers me in attention and im ngl i love it. I tried reconnecting with other friends but honestly i think I might’ve cringed them out by how much i wanted to hang out with them idk. I just don’t want to be alone, but i don’t like this ex-romantic partner like that. I don’t want to lose him again though. Help?

Just be honest with him if he's worth keeping hell understand and I think I'f your lonely it will be very hard to want to risk pushing him away. But it is important to set boundaries for yourself since this is probably going to happen again a situation like this at least. Start off on the right foot for yourself and your life and let him know u don't see him in that way. Bring it up whenever u feel like it's a good time and let him know u still apreacite his friendship. I hope he understands and all goes well, and if not if your other freinds are worth it they will come around in the end. I hope your able to reconnect with your freinds cause I understand being lonely in hard times and it sucks. Were be here for you for sure but it's not the same irl and I want u to know it is a feeling we all understand and I hope your able find freinds to make things better. Praying for you, stay strong and ask for help wen ur not. 💛 :)

Thanks ambiguous sorry for coming back to this so late. I keep feeling afraid to bring it up and hurt him and push him away but yeah im am so much more comfortable at the thought of friendship. Its been 3 days and im still completely nervous. I think all i can do is say that i want friendship because i dont think i want to open myself up to the possibility of breaking down like that again? Is that a valid reason? Self perseverance?

@Coul.C I also feel like we arent moving forward in some areas but i dont want to tell him that and yet feel guilty for not wanting to tell him. Anyways thank you for the prayers your a kind soul and your help is always appreciated. I really do hope helping me doesn’t feel like a compulsion sometimes for you ( not to analyze you) I appreciate you i just dont want to become that for you and want good for you in our friendship as well