Anna, if you made up your mind as to who you want to be with, you might want to talk to your friend and tell him exactly how you feel, this way you won't hurt him by being indifferent to his feelings (especially that you share some of them) and you will help him understand what the situation is. Everybody gets hurt when they don't get what they want, but that's part of life and eventually we all have to learn to see the bigger picture and follow our own path. He should understand that you care about him as a friend and that he can count on your friendship when he needs it, but unfortunately your lifes went in different directions.
I know it's hard to reject someone and cause him pain, but in the long run, he's getting hurt more by having false hopes and illusions. I'm sure there were people who said 'no' to you too and you probably understood their decisions.
If you are not completely decided about who you want to be with, maybe you could tell your boyfriend to take things slowly so that you have time to sort things out for yourself and make the decisions you will be happy with.

good luck!

In Turkish we say:
"Zaman her şeyin ilacıdır."
"Time will heal everything."

thank you classmates! i'm really glad that i got to know this site.

All i wanted to have with my best friend is closure because I don't want to leave him hanging there. Our situation is very hard because I always have connection to his family since his parent became my guardian since my mom died. I have a regular communication with his mom and dad. They are always checking what has been happening to me even if i am away. They look at me as their own daughter. Maybe this is one of the factors that is making it hard for him to move on. Before I thought of ending all my communication with his family, i stopped sending emails and calling his mom and dad. But after 1 month his dad called me, his voice is really worried asking me what happened, why i am not responding to their emails and calls..I felt guilty. Mom and Dad knows nothing about what is happening so I just said i'm busy from work and continued communicating with them like i used to do. For that, me and him will always have connection with each other. It cannot be avoided. I just really wish and pray that he would manage to move on and find someone who would take care of him..someone who can make him forget everything about me. If she will come, i will be the first person to be glad for the both of them!