Just sent the text..

[CantHelpDancingWithTheDevil]

He's been weird with me for days - one minute loved up, next texting saying "talk later I'm busy"

Probably bad news on the whole - he has a few issues and more baggage than Heathrow airport's lost luggage room but a good friend to me for over eight years. He cracked first with the "I love you" stuff - I was the cagey one

Right thing to do; I've been bolstered by a day of drinking in the local beer garden and the text was already composed beforehand but fuck I feel horrendous - I stated in the text not to reply to me but I hope that some day we will be able to be friends again; and that in the interim I hope he gives me space to move on and be happy

Fuck sake. Right thing to do - as my mama says "if there's something not right then it's wrong" - but I'm sad 🙁

Ah, I see. Thanks Token.

Have you heard from him CantHelp? Or so you think he'll do as you asked?

Sorry OP but, your text is such a mixed message in itself.
If I'd received that after 8 years by text, I'd be like well fuck you & you'd be blocked. Sure I wouldn't be alone with that either.

Maybe what you are feeling is some sort of separation anxiety rather than true heartbroken-ness? If someone has that much baggage (and I don't know the history) and you have accumulated frustrations, usually stepping away would bring a feeling of relief.

Are you regretting choosing a clean break away rather than a drop back to friend zone?

"Clean" might have been the wrong word, but ykwim.