We have been together for 3 years now and recently both started at the same college (we're both 18). Over the years, I've felt like I've had to 'baby' him loads into being a good boyfriend, but now that he is perfect, I'm genuinely just so done and tired. I'm stressed that another issue will prop up for me to fix on behalf of him. Alternatively, I have changed a lot for him as a person too.
Since college, I have also wanted independence (no, not to be with other people, but genuinely to spend a few years alone), and I wonder if this is sufficient enough reason to break up with him. My fear is that I will never find someone as understanding as him. But I wish that he was just a friend, and not a responsibility of mine. I want to live out my college years & possibly more just finding myself beyond a relationship.
I don't know if any of this made sense, but I'm just so confused & exhausted – since I found someone who's so perfect on paper, why have I lost feelings for him? Do I wait it out another few weeks before having the final talk with him? I have brought up some of these feelings to him, but every time, he tells me he can't be without me and starts crying. I understand it's a normal reaction and I'm not mad at him for that, but it makes this decision 10x harder for me.
TL;DR: My boyfriend is perfect on paper but I now want independence and there are certain flaws of his that I do not want to see myself dealing with long term.