I’m a 22M, and I met a 22F a couple of months ago. We connected quickly over shared interests and had some amazing conversations early on. She even shared her hopes for where things could go between us, which made me feel optimistic.

However, things changed over time. She had exams coming up and took some distance, which I completely understood. Once her exams ended, she resumed communication, and things seemed back to normal. Sadly, a few days later, she experienced the loss of a family member. We didn’t talk much during that time, but she called me and explained her situation, and the conversation felt warm and open.

A short while later, she mentioned wanting to have a serious conversation and arranged for us to meet. In the days leading up to this, she became less responsive, taking longer to reply to my messages. When we met, she explained that she wasn’t ready for a relationship, needed time to heal, and wanted to take a break.

Afterward, I felt unsure about how to proceed and sent her a few messages asking if we could talk again when she felt ready. She responded that the meeting was meant to bring closure and that she wasn’t ready to discuss things further. She also mentioned needing space and later unfollowed me on social media.

Since then, I’ve respected her request for space and haven’t reached out. While I want to be mindful of her needs, I also feel uncertain about what to do next. I’d like to understand how best to handle this situation going forward.

What approaches can I consider in situations like this, where someone has expressed a need for healing and space? How can I ensure I respect her boundaries while also navigating my own feelings about what happened?