Are those the only options? Nothing or forever? - Sarah Dessen

Because you can never go from going out to being friends, just like that. It's a lie. It's just something that people say they'll do to take the permanence out of a breakup. And someone always takes it to mean more than it does, and then is hurt even more when, inevitably, said ‘friendly' relationship is still a major step down from the previous relationship, and it's like breaking up all over again. But messier.

I was drowning in broad daylight and no one could tell.

All you could do was take on as much weight as you can bear. And if you're lucky, there's someone close enough by to shoulder the rest.