Hi Chloe,

If your relationship with your boyfriend has not worked once before then it will likely always be in the back of your mind of it not working again.

You were hurt once before and it is possible that you are trying to protect yourself from getting hurt again.

How are you so certain that your friend would stay by you if you were only compatible as friends? Perhaps the safety is something you want to feel because you don’t have that with your current partner- given that you parted ways once before.

People will always feel hurt when a relationship ends; this is unavoidable so it might not be wise to let this hold you back if the relationship is not meant to be.

Have you talked to your friend about all of this? Does he feel the same way back? Has your relationship changed for the better since you have got back your partner- have you resolved the issues that were there last time? Couples often find that they fall into the same traps as before when they try to make another go of things- are you experiencing this at all?

There are lots of things to think about here- I can’t tell you who to choose. However the one who embodies the most qualities you want in a partner might be the one who you have the best chance of a future with. If they only have one thing that you think is important; the other areas they lack in might start to become reasons to push you apart.