[This thread involves pornography as a subject and for that reason may have been place on the sexuality board, but the focus is not porn itself but rather a potential relationship issue that pornography may factor in to.]

I've been friends with a wonderful guy for almost three years now. I developed a crush on him that eventually turned into full blown love for him, but I haven't yet confessed. We have a very close relationship and seem to do everything a dating couple does except that we don't have physically amorous relations. We've never kissed, we've never cuddled, we've never even held hands. About a year ago, however, he hugged me before we parted one evening, and we've hugged every single time we've ever parted after spending time together since then (about twice a week). As the year has gone on, the hugs have seemed to last longer and been tighter. I genuinely believe that he has the same feelings for me as I have for him, but I'm not certain if they're at the same level. I'm also a coward, and that's why I haven't made a move yet.

I've never dated before, either. This is the closest to a romantic relationship I've ever had, and I guess part of the reason I've yet to do anything in the way of confessing is that I'm scared and this is all new to me.

My birthday is in two days (09-28-09) and he offered to take me out to dinner to any place of my choosing to celebrate the occasion. He has also told me he has a gift for me, and I assume we'll go back to one of our places to tend to that. I decided back on his birthday in July that if he hadn't said anything by my birthday in September, I would make the first move because I feel like I'm going to explode if our relationship stays as it is for much longer when I want so much more out of it.

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