Dear Abby:

It doesn’t read to me that he was “pressured into telling (you) he doesn’t feel the same”. I agree with you that it may very well be your wishful thinking. I have two comments:

1. “For so long, others and myself had caught him staring at me any chance he got, even smiling at me as he did”- when a person at a distance looks in a particular direction, it looks like he is looking at you specifically, but it looks this way to the person to your right and left, in front and behind. It is similar to a person on TV looking at the camera and people watching TV: it looks to every individual person watching, as if the actor is looking directly at them.

And then, let’s say you tell a friend, all excited: I think X is looking at me! The friend, seeing you excited, wants to … sort of bond with you over the excitement and encourage it, not caring much about accuracy, but encouraging a sentiment, an excitement.

2. “his mother overheard it and turned to mine with a gleaming smile. She automatically asked if she was my mom. They had a long conversation”- this is parents socializing. Nothing to do with what is really happening in the heart and mind of their son, it is his parents finding something exciting to talk about.

I hope you feel better soon and please do post again, if you want, I would like to read more from you.

anita