Respectfully handling long distance seperation
Hoping for some advice more than anything.
I was dating a woman back home - we're both in our early thirties and young working professionals - she's from abroad and is still settling into a new city after a couple of years of living there.
We started dating, but we both knew that I only had a couple of months before I was going to be moving to the other side of the world. Communication was upfront and honest throughout, as well as check-ins.
For me, moving to this new country is something I've always wanted to do, and to have a chance at building a new life, as I wasn't happy with my one at home. However, I'd consider moving back, but not to the same city and it would be a very different part of the country if I did.
Long story short, our relationship was beautiful, but an intense period of time where even though we knew it was short term, we eventually did catch feelings for one another.
It was hard leaving her, but I was excited for my new chapter and knew it's something I wanted to do.
We spoke when I got here and I said I can't do long distance, to which she agreed. We said we'd stay friends and we left communication where we'd keep things open and maybe message once or twice a week.
I'm now two months on from leaving, and my feelings about her are mixed. She messages me that she loves me still and misses me.
I do still deeply care about her and I want the best for her. But we're in two very different places right now and I'm wondering how I should handle it.
I've been upfront throughout, but I think it's best if I close communication with her very gently and respectfully for now as I think in her mind she still thinks there's a chance that I'll move back and we can pick up where we left off. The current messaging situation is making it harder for us both.
What do you think?
TLDR: moved to the other side of the world after a short term intense but meaningful relationship. Struggling with how to close things.