this sounds so juvenile and dumb but my partner doesn’t want to go to prom with me. he is fine taking pictures but doesn’t want to dress up or go out to dinner beforehand. he says being dressed up in public will make him uncomfortable, so i said it was fine and we didn’t have to do anything. i wouldn’t be able to enjoy myself anyway if i knew he was unhappy. 

the real details come into play regarding my past experiences with dances. i was stood up freshman year homecoming, dumped while trying on prom dresses, and then had to leave campus my second homecoming after harassment. i wanted to night to feel special. i finally have a boyfriend who i love and know loves me. 

he doesn’t understand why i’m so upset and i’ve tried to explain that i was just really looking forward to a special day. he said everyday with me was special. it’s been 1.5 years and he’s never taken me on a date or even bought me flowers. i don’t feel special anymore. 

i told him nobody was to blame and sometimes things just don’t work out, i didn’t want him to feel bad. but then i just felt abandoned and unloved. 

i’ve made sure he knows i’m not upset with him in particular, just in general, and that none of this is his fault. i’m just having trouble navigating this spiral of emotions.