Secret age gap relationship
I (20M) am in a relationship with a much older man I met online. It’s been over a year talking and we met for the first time over my spring break.
Things are going really well, but I feel guilty lying to my parents. They’d never be ok with our age gap and they’d be especially upset I drove out of state to meet him without anyone except my therapist knowing. I tell them things at school are ending later or starting earlier to get a couple days I can go spend with him. Our last planned visit got cancelled because of unexpected stuff with my parents, but I’m supposed to see him later this week.
My car broke down today (and has been having various problems for 6 months) and it’s in the shop. I’m working a camp counselor type job at my university, but I’m going to visit my boyfriend beforehand. If the mechanic cant fix my car fast enough, my mom proposed maybe one of them could drive me down. The thing is, I’m not allowed to move my stuff in until 4 days after I’m leaving, so I wouldn’t have any excuse and would be have to explain that I lied. Even if my car does get fixed, i’m worried about it breaking down somewhere past where i’m supposed to be going and having to explain that. Last visit, I lost my car keys and was stranded at an airport (long term parking, he picked me up and drove the rest of the way) for several hours and paid hundreds of dollars for a replacement key without being able to talk to my family at all.
I’m also scheduled to get surgery in about a year and i’m worried that if we’re still together, I’ll say something to my parents while the anesthesia is wearing off. I feel guilty about lying and I’m so scared of getting caught and having to tell them what’s been going on. They’ll never trust me again. I just wish my relationship was something easier to accept. I understand my parents would be right to be worried if I told them, but it’s the best relationship I’ve been in and i’m happy with him.