Hi Gunter,
She has always striven to give support and be a very warm and positive person, no matter in friendships or her family. That has been her ideal self for as long as I knew her. You pointed out that if she is genuinely caring and supportive, she should support my decision and accept that I am going to move on from her. It got me thinking: maybe she simply wants to make up for whatever she feels guilty of (leaving me for another person, asking me to keep it a secret AND stay by her side?) by asking me to be reliant on and trust her. I am generally quite rational and independent when it comes to big decisions like these; I am sure I will be able to cope with studying abroad and taking care of myself, something I have already been doing for some years. I have spoken to my friends and family about my future plans and goals and they have been so encouraging it touches my heart. So, maybe it’s just her guilt, or maybe she just genuinely thinks I need her by my side to feel supported and loved. Thank you for your comments again!

Charlotte