Coping with the absence of a male guardian in my life - seeking comfort and guidance

As-salamu alaykum. I wanted to share something personal and ask for advice. I think most of the emptiness I feel will be filled when I get married, inshaAllah, but until then I’m not sure how to handle it. Since I was very young I longed for a father. When my mum asked what I wanted for my birthday I used to jokingly say I wanted her to go to a “dad shop” and buy me one, until I realised life doesn’t work like that. I remember feeling sad watching fathers with their daughters when I was in reception class. I even liked spending time around my mum’s friends’ husbands because their masculine presence felt comforting. I still get emotionally attached to men who make me feel safe and cared for - men who seem protective or masculine, like an ex-friend’s uncle or the man who helped me when I felt scared the other day. It isn’t romantic attraction; I’ve never felt attracted to men who aren’t in their 30s. It’s more a longing for a father figure. From about age 11 I started looking for father figures, and the hardest years were around 13–14 (15 was tough too). Alhamdulillah I’m older now and doing a lot better. I’ve learned the hard way that searching for that role model can make you vulnerable; I’ve been hurt and taken advantage of before. Still, I naturally tend to trust people and assume good intentions unless I see a reason not to. I do think having a tender, trusting heart is a beautiful thing, but unchecked it can leave you exposed. I even spent time actively looking for a wali, which turned out to be more difficult than I expected. I stopped for a while, but now I’m trying again because I don’t want to get hurt again - I only want to feel protected and cared for. I’m asking: how do other sisters cope with the sadness of not having a male guardian or father figure present? What practical steps did you take until marriage or until a suitable wali appeared? Are there ways to find support, mentorship, or a healthy protective presence within Islamic boundaries? Any duas, mindset shifts, or community resources that helped you would be appreciated. JazakAllahu khairan for reading and for any advice. May Allah bless and protect you all. ☺️🙏🏼