I have known my friend for the past year and a half; we usually get together for dinner as friends a few times a month and just talk about life. She's a bit older than I (27), her being (42), and with a son. I first told her some months back that I had feelings for her and she brought up concerns that we were in different chapters in life due to my age. She knows I'm ready to settle down and have a family; I don't go out and fool around with women; I have been looking for a serious relationship for the past 7 years with no avail. I have been in some pretty bad depression lately because of how I feel toward her, and the feelings not being mutual. I brought up the subject again this past Monday, and she shut me down almost immediately, saying we have already talked about this and that she's halfway through her life, and we're again both on different chapters in life. She doesn't know how amazing, intelligent, funny, and loving she is and what she means to me and others. I know there is no chance of us being in a relationship. I have had feelings and crushes on other women but never have I had feelings this strong. I can't get her out of my head, she's been showing up my dreams lately and it's torture waking up and realizing, that non of the dream was real. I don't want to lose her, but I feel like for my own mental health, I have to let her go if she isn't willing to hear me out fully. Any advice on the matter?