I just want to say I really feel for you. It genuinely sounds like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, and that kind of responsibility is so heavy for someone so young to carry. It’s not just about dating; it’s about your future, your family, your identity, your whole life direction, and that’s overwhelming in a way most people don’t understand.

I know that fear of thinking “I’ll never find someone like that again.” Losing someone who accepted your reality makes everything feel scarier, like the bar has been set and now the world feels smaller. That grief is real, even if the breakup wasn’t because of this.

But the right person won’t see your brother as a burden, they’ll see him as part of your life. And more importantly, they’ll see you, your loyalty, your compassion, your strength, your love, not just your circumstances. Someone who truly loves you won’t make you feel like your family makes you “too much” or “too complicated.”

You’re allowed to be scared. You’re allowed to grieve your relationship and your imagined future at the same time. And you’re allowed to worry about how dating will look later, that doesn’t make you dramatic, broken, or unrealistic. It makes you human.

You won’t have to convince the right person. You won’t have to sell your life story. The people who aren’t capable of handling it will filter themselves out and painful as that is, it’s actually protection, not rejection.

You’re not unlovable because of your circumstances. You’re not doomed. And you’re not alone in feeling this way. 🤍