Editor’s Note: Is anything ailing, torturing, or nagging at you? Are you beset by existential worries? Every Tuesday, James Parker tackles readers’ questions. Tell him about your lifelong or in-the-moment problems at dearjames@theatlantic.com.
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Dear James,
I’m a 22-year-old woman in my first-ever situationship with another woman. We started off as good friends and a few months ago admitted we had feelings for each other. She was seeing someone else casually but then had to leave town for a bit. We stayed in touch while she was away, and at one point I traveled eight hours to visit her and meet her family. During this time I fell head over heels for her, and it was clear she was also interested in me.
Once she