Well, everyone, after many weeks of deliberation and tons of emotional distress, my boyfriend and I have reached a decision - together. We've amicably decided to separate for a while, likely six months to a year. We'll be living apart and dating as much as possible. Neither of us have really had a relationship prior to ours, nor have we had much experience in romance or dating, so we haven't really bee able to make decisions in our own relationship based on anything other than our perception of what we think to be out there.

We're both confident and happy with the decision we've made, and while we're still nervous about it, we know it's for the best. In six months to a year, we'll reconvene and see where we are from there. We may want to get back together, and we may not. It's a huge weight off our shoulders. I think if it were going to work itself out, this is the best way it could have done so.

We're also both going to remain friends, which is something we were worried wouldn't happen. My initial fear (confirmed by him at first) is that he would find it too hard to see me without being with me, and I was afraid if we broke up, I would lose him completely. It felt like an all-or-nothing situation, which is why I was hanging in limbo for so long. But now, he thinks he can remain strong enough to still hang out with me and be a close
friend. We'll still depend on each other just as we had before, only we just won't be in a relationship together.

Of course there are going to be moments of fear for both of us where we'll get scared and want to say, "Never mind, let's just stay together," but we both know this is something we just have to do. It's going to be very good for us both, and we know it.

Anyway, hopefully we're both going to be on the road to recovery. Knowing that we can still hang out and that we might get back together later on in life really helps. Now maybe I can focus more on getting over this sickness that I haven't been able to shake the past three weeks. I finally feel relieved, from everything.

Thanks to every one of you for being here! I love you all! Happiness and success!