I think you 100% have to tell her. You might not get the reaction or response you're hoping for, but if you don't tell her then you'll never know and shit like that can eat you up inside for years.
Perhaps putting your thoughts into a letter and getting your feelings across in that way might be best. It gives her space to digest it all and puts the ball in her court.
Fingers crossed for that Hollywood ending!
I remember writing a pretty long, gushing post on a thread on here about 2 years ago (thread was about love at first sight). I was going out with a girl who I thought was literally perfect for me and how it felt amazing to have met someone so in tune with me with very similar interests etc etc
Naturally that all fell apart at the start of this year; we allowed the relationship to drift towards the end of 2018 and eventually called it a day in January. We did have a brief rekindle around March - May and it was actually like old times for a while but then I discovered something which put the final nail in the relationship coffin and we haven't spoken since, nor will we again. Sometimes you think you know someone, but in reality you don't know them at all. But I have no regrets that we gave it another shot despite what happened, and at least I have closure on that chapter of my life. I've 'mourned' the loss of the relationship/friendship and feel positive heading into 2020.
As they say in the superlative TV show Six Feet Under; everyday above ground is a good one.