I need advice..

Take a bus. Get a ride. Walk. You're not a pedophile if you're also attracted to adults, but the fact that you told a child you're attracted to her and didn't end the relationship immediately when you became attracted to her means that your judgment is borderline. It is possible, depending on what you said to her, that it could have been understood as a proposition and even just that would be attempted sexual assault (depending on your state's laws). It would definitely get an investigation opened and you'd get an FBI file even if you aren't convicted.

It's great that you don't want to hurt a kid and that you understand that you'd be doing that. Those are good signs, but you need someone to hold you accountable, help you work through this and your contributing issues before you do something you can never forgive - and that the law won't either. Because it is politically expedient to hate pedophiles and because before treatment there recidivism rates were high, this is the only criminal group in the United States that is permanently labeled and required to register. Even murderers, physical child and wife abusers, and drug dealers are not required to register for the rest of their life.

/r/Advice Thread Parent