The Bermuda Triangle is a legend focused on a region of the North Atlantic Ocean where many aircrafts and ships have disappeared; they enter but never come out. This sounds incredibly like the concept and stigma of the friend zone: once you are there, it is impossible to get out. But before you panic, I’m here to inform you that there is a way out even though it may be tough (out of the friend zone I’m not sure how to get out of the Bermuda Triangle).

Being told that “we are better off as friends” or  “I don’t want to ruin our friendship” is just two of the many ways someone can convey that they have no romantic feelings for you whatsoever. Welcome to the dreaded friend zone; it’s harsh, I know. Simply put, it is where someone ends up when the person they are interested in only wants to be friends. Often, two people are friends for a good amount of time before one realizes they have romantic feelings, and by then, they are stuck in the friend zone. 

There are a few ways to tell whether or not the person you like only wants to be friends. The most obvious is if they tell you and try to politely reject you, but usually you will be able to sense it before it gets to that point. Some signs include dry texting, not asking you a lot of questions, and talking to you about people they think are attractive. Even their tone or word choice could give very platonic vibes. Most of the time you know unless you are in denial and are trying to convince yourself that the signs are not there. 

While being told that you are more friendship material feels like the person you like is ripping out your heart and putting it in the blender, it is not the end of the world. In fact, you still might have a chance. People jump to the conclusion that being friend zoned means you have no chance of being seen as more. In reality, it just means for the time being. It makes sense to be friends first before being in a relationship since you will already have a strong foundation with that person and will already know a lot about them. Relationships with these beginnings will likely last longer than relationships where the couple were not friends first. Commenting on this, Anonymous states that “momentarily taking a stop in the friend zone is ok, it is when you are stuck in the friend zone that is the problem.”

Usually, the longer you stay in the friend zone the harder it will be to claw your way out because the person you like has gotten so used to seeing you as a friend. No matter how long you have been in the friend zone, the key to getting out is patience. Continuous nagging, begging, or trying too hard will only push them away. Instead, try distance and with time their feelings about you might change. 

If you have ever seen a romantic comedy movie, you will know that it is classic for best friends to fall in love at the end of the movie and realize they were perfect for each other all along. Live your life like a movie and hope to get your happy, cliché ending.