Step 1: Deny, deny, deny. Tell yourself it's just a phase. A fleeting infatuation. A momentary lapse of reason.
Step 2: Obsess over an inanimate object. A favorite coffee mug, perhaps? The intricate designs on a vintage typewriter? The feeling of rain on your skin?
Step 3: Express your feelings in a series of increasingly threatening poems. Don't worry, they're just a harmless form of emotional blackmail.
Step 4: Build an elaborate fantasy world where you are the protagonist, and the unrequited love interest is the damsel in distress.
Step 5: Develop a support group for fellow unrequited lovers. Meet regularly to swap stories and commiserate.