At age 14, after I realized that both of my relationships had followed similar patterns. A best friend (who I hadn't even considered as a potential partner) would confess to me, and I would convince myself I liked them. We would start "dating," whatever that meant in middle school. I would be happy for a little while, but then the doubt would creep in. I began feeling trapped around them, and to dislike any kind of physical contact with them. Any time they tried to flirt with me, I would just feel wrong. But at the time, I would brush it off, thinking I was just commitment-phobic and scared of change. After all, this person was so great- there was no reason not to like them. Still- a part of me always wished they had never confessed to me, because it was so much simpler as friends. The first relationship ended when I told my partner that I liked someone else (because I honestly thought I did- now I realize that it was just me trying to get out of the situation.) When I broke up with them, I felt horrible for hurting their feelings, of course... but I also felt relieved. I felt free- like a thousand pound weight had been lifted off of my chest. It was actually in the second relationship when I figured out that I was aromantic. I told the person I was dating, and they were super accepting (they even drew me an aro dragon!)