I fell in love with my best friends, and then they started dating each other 2 summers ago. I’m asexual, so I’ve never fallen in love before, but after a decade, I found myself in love with my best friend. They’re amazing, beautiful, kind, intelligent, insightful, hilarious. I thought maybe, since we’re both queer, it was possible. I met my other friend more recently, and he meshed well between the 2 of us when I introduced him. He was dating someone at the time, so for a year, we all hung out constantly, fully platonically, and it made me feel like our friendship was genuine. No ulterior motives. He’s also hilarious, charismatic, intelligent, and the first man I’ve ever felt an attraction for. They started dating while I was grieving a loss, and I feel left behind. Inadequate. Confused. Why wasn’t I good enough? Why did the dynamic have to change? Now I feel left out of what used to be an equal connection. They tell me they love me every time we say bye but it hurts to hear.