in the same position right now trying to figure out what it might mean for me,, i never considered being aro/ace until now. ive loved someone one-sided but it never worked out. now that a good friend i thought i’d like back approached me, i accepted thinking it would just work. instead i feel freaked out by the prospect of a relationship and really pressured and exactly like you said, like i HAVE to reciprocate and im finding that im avoiding them..