34F became close friends with a 20M. Now I’m confused about my feelings and boundaries

I (34F) recently met a 20M through a social event. We clicked really quickly and ended up seeing each other 3–4 times a week. We’d often have long, deep conversations until late at night, and it honestly felt like we genuinely enjoyed each other’s company.

He seemed pretty interested in me at the beginning, but I made it clear that I wasn’t comfortable with anything romantic because of the age gap. I told him I was happy to be a friend or even a big-sister figure he could confide in. I’ve even encouraged him to date people his age because I feel he deserves the space to grow and experience relationships with his peers.

Part of why I got attached is because he’s going through a lot. His mom left when he was young, his dad moved overseas, his girlfriend recently left him, and he lost most of his friends after the breakup. I empathize with him a lot, and I genuinely want to support him.

But lately… I’m struggling with my own feelings.

We used to message often, and he’d reply quickly. Recently he’s started ignoring messages or replying very late. At first I thought it was just because he lost his job, and I tried to be supportive (i.e. checking in, inviting him to gatherings so he could meet people, etc) But I’ve now learned he’s talking to his ex again and is very responsive to girls from dating apps.

Meanwhile, I often get left on read or ignored. I know I’m the one who set the boundary and said nothing romantic could happen, so logically I shouldn’t feel hurt… but emotionally I do. I feel pushed aside, and it’s disheartening.

I’m trying to figure out:

Am I overreacting?

Is it inappropriate or pathetic of me to even feel this way because of the age gap?

Should I step back, and if so, how do I do that without being cold or abandoning him while he’s vulnerable?

Any advice would be appreciated.