<human>: Condense the text into a few key points

So I have been in love with my friend for years (closing on 9 in a month). In highschool we dated into university and didn't really end it nor continue it when she had to move away. While we stopped dating we stayed more than friends to the point most people we know think were still in a long distance relationship which honestly I tend to agree as it basically is one without the title that comes with it.

Recently when talking I finally bit the bullet and guessed at what she had been hiding from dam near well everyone (I'm the 4th person she told the other 3 being her 2 best friends up there and a coworker who worked it out on her own) for several years now and I guessed right, shes asexual. The problem with this being during the opening of the flood gates that happend after said guess I found out why she doesn't want things to go further between us because she believes I can be happier with someone who isn't asexual and she " like you to much to let you settle for less than you deserve".

The thing is I dont care about it, I havent seen a good picture of her in years, the bulk of our time spent over the past 4 has been text or voice only and the reasons I love her have nothing to do with appearance. The fact she is asexual means nothing to me and honestly if I didnt think it was useful context to the problem I wouldn't have said it.

Ever since then the convos turned back like this never happened except every time I see a message from her I feel hollow inside, not sad not happy just empty.

 What can I do I don't want to loose what little I have of her now and she will feel tremendously guilty if I talk about this with her but I want this empty feeling to go away.
<bot>: I love an asexual woman who loves me back to the point she wont be with me so that I can be in a relationship where sex is a possibility and now I feel empty whenever we talk. Please help