Are you a 5'4" 28-year-old man in the UK (or a former colony) who just went to a festival with his friends and developed feelings for a lady you've known for 10 years?

Please read what she's saying about you elsewhere, surveying strangers here on reddit to decide what to do about you.

I, 28F 5ft5 have been friends with a guy 28M for 10 years who is 5ft4. I feel quite ridiculous (and even ashamed) writing this because I hate how superficial it sounds, but I genuinely don't know whether his height is something that will bother me or whether I'm overthinking it. I’ve always told myself I wouldn’t date a guy shorter than me and I’ve actually rejected him twice before over the last 5 years because I never thought of him romantically. Although, we have always got on best amongst our group of friends, having a very similar sense of humour and genuine chemistry.

This last week our friendship group went to a festival for 5 days and I have suddenly realised I have developed feelings for him. I found myself constantly gravitating towards him, excited for when he woke up, finding excuses to touch his arm/shoulder etc, wishing I could sleep next to him in his tent and just looking at him and noticing his mannerisms like I haven’t before.

I've now come home and I still feel the same attraction to him, so I know it wasn't just the festival atmosphere. He’s objectively very attractive and incredibly kind and gentle with me like he isn’t with others in our group. He also works out, and people (including my mum) regularly comment on how good-looking he is. The annoying thing is that those same people often seem to add a caveat along the lines of “He is so attractive, it’s such a shame he's so short.”

He has also never had a girlfriend, although he has slept with one girl, and I know his height has played a part in that. He has always been very aware of being short, although has become more confident over the years but it seems like something women have ruled him out for. Especially as our other friends are taller.

The confusing thing is that although the height thing bothers me when I'm standing next to him, when we're sitting together, talking, making eye contact etc., I don't really think about it. It's mainly when we're physically standing next to each other that I'm very aware of the difference. (But we’re all the same height lying down right).

Women who have dated men shorter than them: did the height difference eventually stop mattering once you were genuinely attracted to the man, or did you and others noticing it physically continue to bother you? Ty in advance!