Dear Prudence,
I have a crush on one of my close friends, but she’s in a relationship and I don’t know what to do. I met her like a year ago and we were instantly friends. I think that it might have been either fate or love at first fucking sight, because as soon as I laid eyes on her, something clicked in my mind that she was the one. I could literally picture myself with her while we’re old and gray, but, like I said, she’s in a relationship. The most frustrating thing is that if she was straight or if she never reciprocated anything—we flirt all the time—it might be easier to get over this, but she does every fucking time, and it’s getting even harder to remind myself that I can never be with her because she’s absolutely in love with her long-term boyfriend. I’ve had conversations with her about all the things that go on in her relationship because we’re friends, and sometimes it really seems like she wants to break up with him, but when I ask if she ever would, she says that she doesn’t think she ever could. It’s so painful seeing them together when I know that there is a possibility that we could be together, and I don’t know where to even begin when it comes to getting over this stupendous crush. I could also never distance myself from her because we have such a strong connection, like we’re basically soulmates. I just need some advice on what to do because honestly it hurts so fucking much.
—Little Miss Heartbroken