Hi (fill in the appropriate term of endearment that we haven't known each other long enough to have for each other yet, FYI, I am partial to "babe" in this case),

I may never write you a real love letter, because we may never love each other. Even though I feel that we are very close to wanting to fall for each other, you seem to keep actively forestalling that possibility, even though I keep telling you that my natural defense mechanisms will utterly PRECLUDE that possibility if you stall much longer. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not sure we really WOULD fall for each other if we gave it a chance, but I do know that being with you made me feel like I could be absolutely crazy about you in an instant if you let me. Maybe I'm wrong. Or maybe YOU wouldn't be crazy for ME. (Even though when you let yourself, you act like you already are.)

I know we don't get to see each other much, and that is a problem. But the main reason we don't see each other if because we haven't decided to try to push our "friendship" in that special direction. If we did, I think we would find ourselves in the same city much more often and more easily than you imagine.

Of course, there's a certain amount of inertia to overcome on my end. Certain factors that prevent me from pursuing a relationship right now. But I need encouragement! Incentive! Confidence that I am making the right decision. I'm not unwilling to do it. I just don't trust my feelings, and I trust them even less when they seem to be unreciprocated. And I don't want to hurt anyone or make the wrong choice based on feelings that I ought not trust. Should I trust them? Won't you help me figure that out?

I like you, and I like the idea of you. This is a potent combination.

I wonder if we will ever get to truly explore it.

[submitted 05/06/03]