I know how devastating it is to hear those words -- I heard them also seven years ago. My opinion is YES - give him space if he asks for it. Nothing good ever comes of denying people the space that they need. However, that leaves YOU with the challenge of how to keep yourself together in the meantime.

In order to work things out as a couple, each of you needs the time and reflection to know what you want as individuals. I think that's what he is saying when he said he wants to separate so that you two can work things out. Clinging to him after he says something like that will do NO good -- you'll either get him to stay out of guilt and then he'll resent you, or else he'll go anyway and you'll have given away whatever control you have left. By this, I mean that if you "let" him go, then he's not exactly abandoning you -- you're consenting to it. If you beg him to stay and he goes anyway, then I guarantee you're going to take it much harder.

I think that the focus right now should be on the practical things - getting a job and figuring out where to live.

Tina, once again, I'm really sorry - I know how much pain you are in because I've been there, too. Hang in there, ok?