For what it’s worth: I think I can imagine how you feel. I love my best friend; he’s been there for me, helped me, supported me, and hurt me, more than anyone else. It’s the forever type of love. But on that note, we just wouldn’t work out romantically. It’s crushing sometimes… being that close to having it all, perfection. He told me one time, and one time only, that he thought of us being together but “you can’t sleep w the one that matters, because then you can’t keep them”. That helped, knowing that he thought of it, and that the years we’ll have together as friends are all but guaranteed. I guess the point here is that I know we have more time together as friends, and I would gladly spend all of the rest of my hours and minutes w him, so I accept leaving it at friendship bc otherwise I’d lose him, and that makes any alternative bearable.
Hopefully this helps add a different perspective to what’s already on your mind 🙂 sometimes all it takes is relating to someone, or phrasing something in a new way.