Search Results: the cycle of a relationship

I've had this happen before but it's been a while. And now it's sort of happening again.

There's a guy I've been friends with online who I enjoy talking to, but I just got out of a long term live-in relationship plus we have a kid together. And I want to be single for a long time. I don't even want to think about dating. I've told my friend this but he just says "that's okay I can wait" and will say things like we should do this or that someday. I'm not sure what else to do because I told him I don't want to even think about relationships for a long time and I only want to talk as friends. And have told him that if that's not what he wants we can part ways.

I know a lot of guys think that if they're nice to you then you owe them and they are entitled to a relationship with you. When that's not how it works lol. Right after I've told him that I don't have anything to offer him or anyone because I need to heal myself and focus on me and my child, he's said things like "I know we have something special" and "I know you feel more with me than any of those other guys/your ex."

What do I do? It's like a cycle he gets upset and I feel bad and say maybe we shouldn't talk anymore and then he says things trying to convince both himself and me that we will be together, no matter how many times I've said its not an option right now and I don't want to lead him on. He will say friends is better than nothing but still seem to expect that things will progress no matter what.