My best friend of over thirteen years is really important to me. They've been a very good friend that I've been able to hang out with often, and I enjoy their company.
Around a year or two ago they asked me out over texts, and I was kind of wishy-washy, but I remember saying that I did not want a romantic relationship with them. After that it had been kind of awkward between us, but we grew closer and I mostly forgot about it.
Recently, I've been talking to them a lot more, and helping them get through some things in their life. They broke up with their boyfriend on the 24th of April, and were pretty emotional. On the 27th, they asked me out with a very heartfelt message over text. I turned them down this time, telling them that I loved them as I would a sibling, but not romantically. Over the last two years I've been working on my confidence, and in my opinion, it certainly shows in my responses to romantic advances and other aspects. I'm worried that I came on as stern, but afterwards they pressed on and asked about a queer-platonic relationship. Since this term is mainly used within the asexual community as a term describing a deep friendship, I was a little confused. I thought we already were good friends? I told them that, again, I was not ready for a relationship, and I may never be, with anyone. They told me that it was okay and that they were glad I still wanted to be friends.
The last time they responded to me was on the 29th. I'm really worried about them, and I feel like I'm trying to reach a ghost. Does anybody have any advice or experience with this kind of thing? What can I do??