Forbidden Friend

A forbidden friend is like forbidden fruit, you may look, you may even touch, but you mus'n't cross the line of "taking" for yourself.

A forbidden friend may be a best friend, or a friend admired from a distance. A forbidden friend is unique in that there is something that causes a roadblock to complete safety with that friend--most often there is attraction and intimacy, at the same time as the friend is unavailable as a lover--possibly due to prior commitment or lack of desire of total intimacy. This creates tension and complicates what should be an easy and fulfilling friendship. Sometimes the one that desires the forbidden friend feels like creating distance since they will not attain what they want, but that is a loss for both parties. Thus, forbidden friends may continue on a rollercoaster of deepening closeness and distancing until someone closes a door, or someone opens one.