Just tell her how you feel, bro. Look, I understand the amount of courage it takes, the nerves involved. I understand that she might reject you, and shatter your already damaged heart. Your friendship might break apart, leaving you stranded on a metaphoric island of loneliness. You might lose your best friend, the only one who knows you inside and out. And she could very possibly never look at you the same way, as if your face was scarred by the guilt of knowing she tore your heart in two.

But she could very possibly tell you the same thing, that she’s been in love with your smile since the very first day she set her eyes upon it. She could tell you that she longs for your embrace at night, thinking of you in every thought, dreaming of you in every dream. You might actually build on your friendship, making the link between lover and best friend. And she could very possibly never look at you the same way, as if your face reminds her each and every day that love works in mysterious ways.

So take a chance on her if you think she’s worth it. I know the amount of bravery it takes to give her that one speech you’ve rewritten a hundred thousand times. Tell her how you feel, and put meaning behind those promises. And please, do it quickly. I’ve seen far too many broken hearts because of words left unsaid. Risk it all for her, because when you’re dealing with an extraordinary person, you have to take an extraordinary risk.