It really is exciting but at the same time it really hurt having feelings with someone you like?

Alright i loved this girl but was too nervous to tell her how i felt. We talked constantly over christmas break and i decided just to man up and tell her. When i told her that i loved her she told me how she respected me for being honest and telling her how i truly feel about her. However, she said that she only liked me as a friend and nothing else. I decided that i should cut off all connection from her...which i did for about a month and then she called me when something happened. We ended up talking until early morning and then she told me she loved me too. So idk i would just tell whoever you love that you do love them and see where it goes. It sucks keeping those felings inside.