I guy who wants to elevate or maintain a relationship does everything in his power to keep it going.
Saying that he doesn’t know where things go from here is his indication that he isn’t intent on doing whatever it takes to keep the relationship going or elevate it to the next level.
As long as feelings persist from at least one party in this long-term relationship, pain is inevitable.
Thinking about how to end a long-term relationship on good terms, in an emotional sense, only exacerbates the situation.
This is what leads to you delaying on ending the relationship because you are so caught up on how to do it in a way that doesn’t destroy him emotionally.