Dear Miss Emily:

I have a friend who we have been really good friends for years, and today he tells me he has a crush on me. He is the most amazing person i know and i love him to death. I dont know what to do. I would totally date him because I know that he would treat me like a princess, and how i should be treated, but if anything were to happen i wouldn't want our friendship to be ruined. What should i do!? Also, i do not find him sexually attractive, but i still would date him. I just don't know how to tell him how I feel if we were to date.

------------------------------Miss Emily's advice-----------------------

Ordinarily, I suggest a person go for it based on many of the elements you stated in your letter. But you mentioned you aren't sexually attracted to him, and that could pose a problem. He has many of the fine qualities you want in a guy, but that's a hurdle. You are such good friends with him, now, and you know him well. It's not as if you'd just met him, and once you got to know him, the sexual attraction followed suit. That's what you're going to have to think about before making a commitment to date him. My guess is that he will want some physical intimacy. That said, I don't think it would destroy your relationship with him if you were honest along the way -- "The spark didn't ignite, but I still love you as my friend." If you and he are mature about it, the friendship could endure. But, again, think before you leap, because the lack of physical attraction is an issue, and you realize it because that's one of the major reasons you wrote to me.