I think all you will ever be with him is friends. Sometimes its better just not to even be friends for a while.
Story: I am still friends with my Leo first love. We were together when I was 18 and 19. Broke up. Tried to be friends, but it was painful for me because then I still loved him. We went separate ways and each married different people. Didn't speak but a few times over a 20 year period. Flash forward. We are both divorced and single now. We tried to hook up and rekindle something, but although we care about each other still, we realize we won't ever be "in love" with each other. We love each other as friends. He's been supportive, gives me male opinion, helped me emotionally through my ugly divorce, gives me boyfriend advice, I give him girlfriend advice - he's the best male friend I could ever ask for! In fact, he's like the pesky big brother trying to do background checks on any guy I date. (luckily Aqua got a good one! lol!). And there's none of that sexual tension that comes between male/female friendships - got that over way a long time ago.
Maybe that's the kind of friendshp you can look forward to in the future. But, quit holding out! I don't think it's not going to happen. If it was going to, it already would have.
By the way, it has always been important to me to stay friends or at least friendly with exes. Just because you didn't work out as a couple, doesn't mean they are bad people. They still have good qualities. Maybe your ex feels this way.
Story: I am still friends with my Leo first love. We were together when I was 18 and 19. Broke up. Tried to be friends, but it was painful for me because then I still loved him. We went separate ways and each married different people. Didn't speak but a few times over a 20 year period. Flash forward. We are both divorced and single now. We tried to hook up and rekindle something, but although we care about each other still, we realize we won't ever be "in love" with each other. We love each other as friends. He's been supportive, gives me male opinion, helped me emotionally through my ugly divorce, gives me boyfriend advice, I give him girlfriend advice - he's the best male friend I could ever ask for! In fact, he's like the pesky big brother trying to do background checks on any guy I date. (luckily Aqua got a good one! lol!). And there's none of that sexual tension that comes between male/female friendships - got that over way a long time ago.
Maybe that's the kind of friendshp you can look forward to in the future. But, quit holding out! I don't think it's not going to happen. If it was going to, it already would have.
By the way, it has always been important to me to stay friends or at least friendly with exes. Just because you didn't work out as a couple, doesn't mean they are bad people. They still have good qualities. Maybe your ex feels this way.