I (22F/M) think my boyfriend (22M) and I are heading toward a breakup right before moving in together and graduating nursing school — should I just give him space?

I (22) and my boyfriend (22) have been together for 2.5 years. We’re both about to graduate nursing school, and this semester has been extremely stressful for both of us. We also just signed a lease and are supposed to move in together in 2 days. My lease ends May 10th and his ends in July.

Recently, he made a new friend group. We used to mostly share friends, but he told me he wanted his own space socially, and I respected that. The issue is that now he spends most of his time with them and sees them more than he sees me. He says he doesn’t like being alone, so he prefers to be around people, which I understand, but it’s made me feel like I’m no longer a priority in his life. Even when we do spend time together, he’s often distracted by constant texts and calls from them.

We’ve also been having conflict about the move-in situation. I suggested he sublease his apartment so we could fully move in together at the same time, but he said he doesn’t have the mental capacity for that right now and would rather delay moving in until late May or even June. I was upset because that would mean I’d be living alone for almost a month in a new place, but he refused and said he already has too much on his plate.

We barely see each other anymore, and when we do, we end up fighting. I’ve tried to communicate how I feel, but he says he’s too emotionally drained from nursing school to be emotionally available for me and that I should find someone else. At the same time, I’ve been going through a lot too—I lost both of my parents during nursing school, and I’m struggling with the fact they won’t be here to see me graduate.

When I’ve asked directly if we’re breaking up, he’s said no and that he still sees a future with me. But things have continued to feel distant.

On top of that, I recently found out he’s been talking to someone I had previously expressed discomfort about. I told him it made me uncomfortable, but he said they’re going through a lot and are emotionally unstable, so he feels like he needs to be there for them.

Recently, I was out drinking with friends (and some of his friends were there too). I was pretty drunk, and he came up, said he was going home, and said goodnight. He didn’t ask how I was getting home or check in on me at all. I got really upset because I already feel like I’m not a priority, and that moment triggered a lot for me. I told him we should break up, which I now feel may have been a reaction in the moment.

We talked about it afterward, and he’s still upset with me and being pretty distant. I asked to meet briefly before I go to work, but he said he was too emotionally drained. I later found out he’s been hanging out with friends and watching movies. When I told him I just feel really alone and need support, he said he can’t provide that right now.

He did reaffirm that he still wants to be together, but when I bring up feeling like I’m not a priority, he says he’s prioritizing himself right now.

I don’t know what to do anymore. I feel really overwhelmed emotionally and like I don’t have much support. I don’t want us to break up, but I also feel like I’m getting more hurt and reactive because of how distant things have become. I also recognize I’ve had moments where I’ve handled things poorly.

Should I just give him space? I’m really unsure what the right move is here.

TL;DR: My boyfriend has become distant and emotionally unavailable due to stress and a new friend group, while I’m also grieving major losses. We’re about to move in together but keep fighting, and I feel unsupported. He says he still wants the relationship, but I don’t know if I should give him space or if it’s already over.