She wants exclusive but you're scared she'll change her mind

When someone asks to be exclusive, the message itself is almost always straightforward. She's saying she wants to stop seeing other people and see how things go with you. What makes you anxious is the gap between that and a promise about next year. Nobody can give that promise, including her, so the worry will never fully resolve through texting. Notice when your questions are about how she'll feel later, because those questions can't be answered now.

Look at what she has been doing so far. Has she been the one suggesting plans, following up after dates, and mentioning you to friends or on social media? Those things tell you more than any single line of text. If the pattern is consistent and warm, the fear is probably running ahead of the evidence. If she's been vague about plans or slow to reply for weeks, that's a real signal and worth raising directly, not turning into a question about whether she meant it.

The reply has three jobs. It needs to say yes or no clearly, so she isn't left guessing. It needs to show you're pleased she asked, because she put herself out there to ask. And it needs to leave room for her to keep being herself, without making her responsible for calming you down. If your reply is mostly about your nerves, she'll feel the pressure even if you never say it.

Keep it short and specific. Naming something you like about the two of you lands better than a general compliment, and it shows you were paying attention. If you have a condition, such as wanting to talk before anything changes, say it once and move on. Stacking caveats makes a simple yes sound like a negotiation.

Timing matters more here than people expect. If she asks late in the evening, don't answer at 2am with a wall of reassurance or a sudden burst of enthusiasm. Wait until the next day when you can reply in ordinary tone. A reply that goes out after you've slept on it reads as considered. One sent in a rush reads as either anxious or overeager, and she'll pick up on that even if you don't mean it that way.

If you haven't heard back after a day or two, don't send a second message asking whether she's still on board. Give it a few days and let the next time you see each other set the tone. If she still hasn't responded to a clear question after a week, that's a conversation worth having in person or by call, and you can say simply that you'd like an answer so you know where things are.