I think we've all liked a friend at some point in our lives, and we can all agree it always gets very confusing. When we like someone a lot, we naturally don't want to lose them, so we will likely say yes to keeping them as a friend even though we want more.
We might deny it, but in the back of our minds, we will probably be waiting for them to change their opinion about us. It's not rational, and it's not on purpose, of course, but it's something denial does for most of us.
A person should be really secure for this not to happen. They should be able to know themselves when they're getting too involved with somebody who only sees them as a friend. But well, that doesn't happen every time, and it's normal for the person who has a crush on somebody to be vulnerable.
The woman in the post below writes really interesting reasons why you shouldn't keep a person who likes you as a friend, and I think her arguments are strong.
If we really appreciate our friend and don't want to lose them, we should put some distance between us, at least for a couple of months. Just so the body understands there is no hidden opportunity and correctly grieves the loss. I've done this with two friends, and they have completely gotten over it. It's only natural.
Do you think this approach is too rigid, or would you do the same? Has it ever occurred to you? Were you able to set your feelings aside and continue having the friendship without expecting anything to change?
Maybe it depends on how much emotional maturity your friend has, but if you find yourself in this situation and don't know what to do, I think the advice below could suit you.