My first love broke up with me

My boyfriend of 2 yrs broke up with me over text, We've been friends forever (12 yrs). He was my best friend, the person most close to me that had seen all the good and bad sides of me. He was the one I'd call when something happened, when I wanted to talk about my day, or just when I needed to hear someone. We grew up together, our personalities were formed together. There was a period in time where we would hang out every day, maybe doing something or maybe doing nothing but sit with one another. He was my first relationship, my first love. I had all of my first times with him. I can say that It was a period in my life where I was truly happy.

Now I am completely heartbroken because in a span of 3 excruciating days, including a lot of physical and mental pain, he walked out of my life for good. My favourite person, gone in an instant. He said that he still loves me and that he just can't do it anymore. However, if we love each other and there is a chance of growth why not try it? This question will be wandering in my head for a long time. I am devastated, he gave me no hope for any type of reconciliation. How can we go back to strangers? With a person I have known for most of my life. How can I face him if we ever meet in public? Will we just pretend we didn't see each other and turn our heads the other way?

I don't know how to get over this, instinctively, like any other time something painful occurred in my life, I'd be telling him, he'd be the 1st person I'd share my pain with, and now my soul is seeking him to share this kind of pain with him, but he's not there. And he'll never be there again.

We are currently completely non contact, I am blocked on everything and I am trying to get my shit together, as much as possible at least. I am trying to not check, to distract myself, to attend my lessons. But it's hard and it seems impossible, I know that time heals and I have to wait it out, but I really feel like I can't handle it.

Any advice?