I (23M) fell in love with my childhood friend (23F) How Can I Connect with Her More

Hi!

Thank you for taking a look at this post!

I fell in love with my childhood friend after we reconnected at a wedding. I’ve known her since I was in middle school because we’re family friends. We lived quite apart after I got into high school and talked now and then. We also met up to hang out every year for the past ten years. Our friendship has never degraded.

She is the kindest person I know. She is also humble, hardworking, hilarious, and artistic. She is pursuing a career in becoming a doctor. We feel very comfortable together because neither of us is harsh on other people. We share common interests, such as art, and values (e.g. we both like helping other people and are into charity work) and highly value independence.

I’ve fallen in love with other women before. This time with her, however, it’s totally different. I felt such a strong desire to give and connect more deeply with her. And I think it was a slowly increasing attraction that is way more like “wow she is so amazing and cool” rather than “wow she is so hot.” (I think she’s attractive regardless). For now, I can only text her every day. We’re texting more and more often after the wedding. We’re both super busy, but I initiated first, and the good thing is that she is reciprocating and also initiates texting if she’s not busy. But it stayed friendly.

I don’t really how to go from here. I’d like her to open up to me more (such as being able to share more freely with me in terms of her problems and concerns) and I’d like to express my affection. But I don’t know how to do so without making it look like I’m making drastic romantic moves. And I prefer to just like to make slow and steady progress.

I’ll be able to probably hang out with her in person after two-three weeks. My friend told me to ask her out on a date directly, but coronavirus is spreading and I am not confident enough to take a big step yet in general, so I can’t really asking her out any time soon.

Thank you! I’d appreciate any advice! Hope you have a great day!