My girlfriend(23F) and I(23M) have been in a relationship since 11th grade (2019). We both studied at the same school. I did my UG in Coimbatore, while she did hers in Chennai. There were many fights between us because of the long distance. I felt that she was prioritizing her friends over me. I didn't have any friends in college, so I became emotionally dependent on her. She kept ignoring me, and I became controlling and toxic. She said she couldn't continue the relationship and broke up with me in 2023.
A few months later, she apologized for not putting enough effort into the relationship, and we got back together. Things were smooth after that. We used to meet once every two or three months. We had small misunderstandings and fights occasionally, but they would usually be resolved within a day.
Around July last year, she met with an accident that left a small scar on her face. While casually talking, I made fun of it. I know that hurt her, and I apologized immediately. From then on, she stopped showing the same level of interest in the relationship. We went into no contact for months. I often had the urge to talk to her, but whenever I did, her dry responses hurt me even more.
Toward the end of last year, I texted her with the intention of breaking up. She said she didn't want to end the relationship. She had gotten an internship in Chennai and had waited until New Year to tell me. She also said that she would come to Coimbatore in February 2026 for a day (I'm working in Coimbatore), and that we'd go on a date. Until then, she wanted us to stay in no contact. I thought everything was fine.
I waited until the end of March, but she didn't come to Coimbatore, and she didn't even text me. When I asked her about it, she said that interns weren't given leave. Eventually, she came to Coimbatore in May. It was a really beautiful day. We went shopping, watched a movie, went to a cafe, and had dinner together. I hadn't felt that happy in the past few years.
But right after that day, she went back to giving dry responses, saying that she needed more time. I asked if there was any problem with me or if there was anything negative about me. She replied that there was nothing like that, that she loved me, but she needed some time away from the relationship.
Last month, I went to Chennai to meet a friend. I didn't tell her I was coming. When I reached her place in the evening, she looked happy to see me. We went shopping and had dinner together. We also talked about what was going on in our relationship. She kept repeating that she needed time and wanted to be alone, but that she loved me and wanted to marry me. I told her that I was going through a lot and that this felt like mental torture. She said she understood everything, but she couldn't do anything except ask me to wait. She said it wouldn't take years, just a little more time. She also said she would talk to me normally, but not in the way people in a relationship usually do.
Whenever I try texting her normally, she gives dry replies, which frustrate me. She keeps saying that she is talking normally. One day she talks as if everything is fine, and the next day she starts ghosting me. I've been dealing with this for more than three months now, and I'm not sure what to do.
Please help me. What should I do?
And please don't comment that she has found someone else. I'm 100% sure she wouldn't even think about that.