Dear Prudence,
I’m a woman in my early 20s. My friend “Taylor” and I have been acquaintances for a couple years, but during the pandemic, we got back in touch and ended up growing close. We talk every day and video chat occasionally, and we have driven to each other’s cities to visit. I enjoy spending time with her more than anyone else. We are definitely not girlfriends (she and I have different romantic and sexual needs in every possible way), but we are each other’s primary confidantes and best friends.
Because I enjoy Taylor’s companionship so much, I haven’t really felt the need to try dating for the past few years. I’ve had some bad relationships and I’m content to appreciate what I have instead of constantly being on the Hinge grind. But Taylor is interested in getting a girlfriend of her own now, and she’s started telling me about her adventures. And I hate it. I feel heartbroken at the idea of Taylor settling down with someone who isn’t me. She and I would be a terrible couple—and I have plenty of other friends, so it’s not like she’s the only person in my life. But she’s the only person I feel this close to. How do I navigate being so sad?
— Feeling Left Behind