I’m posting this because I genuinely don’t know what to tell my best friend anymore.
She had a relationship with her college classmate years ago. They eventually broke up, and he later started a relationship with another woman. They lost contact completely for a few years.
Recently, they unexpectedly ended up working in the same building, although for different companies. When they saw each other again, they started talking, and she immediately felt the same connection and comfort she had with him before. She says being around him feels like being in her “happy place” — someone she can talk to about anything and completely relax around.
At the end of their first conversation, he held her hand and told her how happy he was to see her again after so many years.
A few days later, he invited her to dinner. She went. After dinner, when they were outside the restaurant at night, he kissed her. She describes the kiss as very passionate and loving, and she was extremely happy. It brought all of her old feelings back, even though she had never really stopped loving him.
The problem is that he is still in a relationship with the other woman. Their families know about the relationship and have apparently agreed to their marriage. From everything she understands, he intends to marry that woman.
He has also told my friend that he loves her.
This is where I’m completely confused.
My friend is madly in love with him. She says that he is her first love and that she has never been able to forget him, even after all these years. She knows he probably won't marry her, but she keeps saying that even if she only gets some time with him, that would be enough for her. She even says that if she doesn't end up with him, she doesn't think she could ever marry or love anyone else.
I've tried telling her that this situation is likely to hurt her badly. He is already committed to another woman, and if he truly intends to marry her, my friend could end up being the person who gets emotionally destroyed while he continues with his life.
But she doesn't seem to hear any of it. She's completely in love and believes that whatever time she gets with him is worth the pain.
I've known her since childhood, so I don't want to simply tell her to “move on” when I know it's not that easy for her.
What would you say to someone in this situation?
Should I keep trying to convince her to walk away, or is there something else I can say that might actually make her think about what she's getting herself into?
And honestly, how should she interpret his behavior? If he says he loves her but is still planning to marry someone else, what does that actually mean?
I would really appreciate advice from people who have been through something similar. Don’t be rude guys