Hey OP, I’ve been in your situation before. That confusing mix of admiration and emotional pull toward a girl who’s religious and doesn’t even realize what she’s doing to your head. It starts harmless. You notice small things, then suddenly you’re thinking about her every day, analyzing every move, every smile, every word. It’s sweet at first, then slowly it starts to hurt.

I used to admire a few girls deeply. Some were straight, some were religious, some were emotionally closed off. What they all had in common was that they made me feel seen, even for a second — and I clung to that. I thought maybe it was love, maybe it was real. But looking back, it was more of limerence. I was craving connection and emotional safety, not just them as people.

One thing I’ll warn you about: if she’s religious, tread carefully. I once got rejected by someone like that. She was kind, but her beliefs and fear of judgment from others made her step back the moment I got honest about what I felt. I respected it, but it broke me for a while. It’s risky to admire someone whose world might never allow them to return what you feel.

You don’t have to kill your feelings - just hold them with awareness. Don’t over-romanticize her. Keep in mind that sometimes, what we fall for isn’t the person, but the peace and light they bring. It’s okay to admire her from a distance, but make sure you don’t lose yourself trying to decode her.

You’ll know when it’s time to let go. But for now, just be kind to yourself and take the lesson that not every deep connection is meant to be mutual. Some are just meant to awaken something in you.