Dear Jenny Lynn:

You wrote: “Who knows.” No question mark at the end, just  who knows. As if no one knows and there is no way to know.

When he told you that he  is afraid to lose you if you met his parents, I am thinking it may mean that they lost him. He still communicates with them, but they lost him in some significant way.

In your second paragraph you asked if it is  supposed to be easier than this. Well, putting supposed aside, you can make your life easier than this. It is possible  to resolve conflicts and  have a peaceful relationship if both sides are willing and learning.

I think that he needs to believe that he is the number one  person in your life, more significant to you than any of your friends. Somehow if he believes that, then maybe he can graciously endure you having friends you care about. If you talked to him about this and he acknowledges that indeed he needs to be your number one, you can talk and even negotiate what it  means, to be your number one. See if there is a way to work this out for the satisfaction of the two of you.

anita