I had a conversation with a friend some days ago. She has been in a relationship that has more or less stagnated over time. She's obviously in love with her partner, and to an extent it seems genuinely reciprocated. The problem is that they are not married and he seems uninterested, or at least unsure about taking it to the next step.
This is a problem because of her religious background. They don't live together and haven't had sex before so there are valid concerns for her as far as marriage is concerned. She has also noticed that he's not as supportive or enthusiastic as he once was, which he alludes to stress from work and some personal issues he was dealing with.
Well she didn't come to me for relationship advice, just needed a space to vent her concerns/frustrations. I won't judge their relationship either, knowing them both. I believe there is an element of truth in the excuses her man provides, and also a hidden part he isn't revealing.
I told her to be patient and see if things improve, they've already been together for more than 4 years anyways. She seems to be running out of patience, and I believe it will be a mistake for her man to lose her. However, am certainly not going to play advocate. I believe if he is intentional, then he would also be scared to lose her.
Should I choose to update on this situation in the future, I hope they'll still be together as at the time, and forged past their challenges.