I told him that maybe he didn't need another boyfriend. Maybe he needed time to understand what a healthy relationship actually felt like.
He didn't appreciate the advice at first.
Eventually, though, he started being more honest with Daniel about his fears instead of finding reasons to create distance.
They're still together.
Watching them taught me something: sometimes, the thing we say we want is easier to pursue than it is to receive. Being loved well can require us to unlearn habits we developed when love was always uncertain.