u/Latter-Orchid2466

I didn’t grow up in a very stable environment—my parents argued frequently, and there was emotional and sometimes physical abuse. When I left home, I started working on my self-esteem and personal development, and I’ve done quite well in that regard. I’m 25 now, and my main problem is that even if I like a man and feel comfortable and interested in him, as soon as he says he wants me to be his girlfriend, all my feelings disappear and the only thing I want to do is run away. I’ve already started saying straight away that friendship is the only option, because I know how it will end and I don’t want to hurt anyone. If anyone has faced something similar, please let me know if you managed to get through it and build a relationship. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this and would appreciate any advice 🫶🏻 Apologies for any mistakes; English isn’t my first language.

I really love classic literature, but I’ve tried reading "One Hundred Years of Solitude" at least three times and still haven’t managed to finish it or understand it. Has anyone else had a similar experience with books or authors? Were you eventually able to read and understand them—perhaps after some time had passed or you’d gained more life experience—or did you decide it just wasn’t for you?