Thank you Peter, and Anita for your feedback. It is greatly appreciated.

Anita,

A few months ago when this originally came up, he opted to work (remotely) with my Therapist. This was a huge step, and we were all confident of a positive outcome. My expectations for him were only that one day, we would be together… that we would not put any labels or pressure on ourselves. That because this was real love, we would let it grow organically, and in time, when it was right, we would take the next step.

I told him I was falling in love with him, and that I wanted no other man in my life, or bed. That I would take each day as it came, and that eventually, even if it took years, that I was ok with that. He told me how he felt about me, and because of his genuine caring and love, I was able to transcend needing a label, time frame, or anything of that nature.

He was good with that, but one day he became distant again. We talked it through and he realized it was his fear, and we moved forward as normal. A few more weeks went by, and he became distant and not-reciprocating of my gentle affections. I asked him what was going on and his reply was that he loved talking to me, doing things with me, and that I was an amazing woman, one unlike any other he had ever known…but that he “didn’t necessarily want a partner right now, and he didn’t know what to do.”

I was of course hurt, because after 8 months of this, it was beginning to become a source of great pain for me. We agreed he would talk to our mutual Therapist (with who, I have trust) before we made any final decision or talk again.

They had a long session, and then he and I talked. He was very clear that he was not ready. He stated that he could see us getting Married, and did not want to uproot his life, and have his kids think he was trying to replace their Mother. He said over and over, “I know this doesn’t make sense, I know it doesn’t but it is how I feel”

It was very painful. He was in tears and professing his feelings for me, but that he just could not do it.

That was one month ago, tonight.

Thank you for listening.