Dear Tumblr, 

I need your help. 
There’s this guy. And I really like him. Like, I really like him. And he really likes me back. And yet for some reason I am just incredibly hesitant. 

Because he says he likes me, but what if it’s some big ruse? Because seriously, who would like me? And he’s just so nice…. Like sometimes I get panicky and weird and he’ll just sit there looking at me with a tiny smile until I calm down and he can give me a hug. And today we were talking and I told him I was having some trouble staying calm and he asked what I meant, and I said I wanted to maybe run away (we were at his place) or cry, except obviously I didn’t actually want to do those things. And he told me that if I needed to cry then he would be more than happy to let me do that. Like jesus christ. 

I do not like having feelings. I really do not like it. I feel so vulnerable and I don’t know why. We were sitting there on the couch today just looking at each other and I desperately wanted to reach over and touch him, or just hold him, and I wouldn’t let myself. Because I don’t want to open myself up to all of the scary things that might happen if I admit how big my feelings are and we actually do this thing. 

I don’t know why I am so scared. I don’t like being vulnerable; I like taking care of myself, I like not having to worry about pleasing other people. I am scared that being with someone will mean that they then develop certain expectations of me, and then I won’t be able to meet those expectations - or maybe just that I don’t want to feel the stress of having to live up to someone’s expectations or deal with their disappointment when I don’t - and they will be upset, or dissatisfied, or stop liking me. I am not good at being someone that a guy would want to date. I don’t do pretty and skinny and funny; I am complex and selfish and I eat too much and I refuse to live my life to satisfy anybody else. So I guess what I’m worried about is that someone will expect things of me that I’m not okay with, but that I will try to meet those expectations because I love that person and I don’t want to disappoint them? And that’s just compromising who I am. 

So I guess ultimately it can be summed up pretty easily: I am scared of getting hurt. I don’t know why, but I feel as if maybe letting someone know how you feel about them - how much you feel for them - is somehow giving up all the power. Because when they know that you like them, they can hurt you. It’s a weak spot. Feelings are a weak spot and I’ve tried so hard for so long to avoid ever having them, but here I am, unable to stop myself having them, and in the process probably sabotaging what could actually be a really excellent thing. 

And it’s still so scary that I want to run away. 
And I don’t know what to do.