>>3999339/sms/ anon here. It's entirely possible to have a friendship with another boy that can feel close to (if not very similar to) an intimate or "romantic" relationship without eroticism being attached to it. Looks like your friend was able to recognize that distinction when he was able to get a gf while also naming his child after you. My best piece of advice is to cherish that love and nostalgia that you have for your boyhood friendships, but to not let it color those past experiences too much. Handholding, as an example, is just a tie-sign that demonstrates the nature, depth, and vulnerability of the relationship that you two had. It's something you two felt comfortable doing together. But any tie-sign (handholding), as Goffman would argue, can be susceptible to misinterpretation. That said, it's not an indicator of sexuality. Nor are hugs, nor is bedsharing, nor is sharing the same bath. As far as liking cute sho pics as a form of coping and still being single? Same here! I've gone on dates with some female co-workers, I've struggled with my own sense of belonging (my relationships with normies, women, etc). Could be me being neurodivergent, I don't know. But I absolutely do long for those days of innocence and where love felt like a natural expression in boyhood with my own friends. Anyways, I hope you and B are still able to at least hang out and be friends even if the dynamic isn't the same.
