Unspoken Desires

I've been a caregiver to my partner for the past year, helping her navigate life's challenges as she recovers from a serious illness. We're both in our twenties and have known each other since college. While I take on many roles of support, organizing her schedule, cooking meals, ensuring she takes her medication, it feels like there's an unspoken connection developing between us that goes beyond just being friends or roommates. Lately, when we're alone together, I've found myself thinking about more intimate forms of care. Things like dressing her wounds with gentle hands or holding her while she sleeps, moments where the line blurs between caregiver and lover. But these thoughts are tinged with sadness because I'm not sure how to bring it up without overstepping boundaries that aren't explicitly defined. I've considered telling her about my feelings, but fear rejection or misunderstanding. Is this normal for a care dynamic? Do you think it's worth exploring deeper, or should I stick to professional distance?