Hey Reddit fam,

I find myself in a bit of a tricky situation and could really use some guidance. So, here's the deal:

I recently reconnected with a childhood friend through Instagram, and we've been chatting for the past five months. We hit it off surprisingly well, bonding over shared interests and feelings. She's a genuinely nice person, and we've both considered taking things to the next level.

Now, here's where it gets complicated. I moved abroad for my master's three years ago, and she's still in our home country. She's planning to pursue higher studies but won't be able to join me for at least another 2.5 years. The idea of a long-distance relationship has never appealed to me, especially with a 10-hour time difference. I'm someone who values physical presence, going out, and doing activities together in a relationship, and the challenges of maintaining such a connection from a distance seem overwhelming.

I'm visiting my home country next month, and we've planned to meet. However, I've come to the realization that I'm not ready for a long-distance relationship. I want to communicate this to her before we meet in person, so there are no false expectations.

She's a wonderful person, and I don't want to hurt her. I've never explicitly said we would date, but I understand that she might have interpreted it that way based on our conversations. My plan is to express my feelings honestly, explaining that I'm not prepared for a long-distance relationship at this point. I want her to live her life, not wait for me, and if she finds someone else in the meantime, I want her to pursue that.

I'd really appreciate any advice on how to approach this conversation delicately, making sure she understands where I'm coming from without causing unnecessary pain. Have any of you been in a similar situation? How did you handle it?

Thanks in advance for your insights!