Yes Patty,

I agree. It is just that somehow he was holding out for me.
I am not his cure, but it is sad to think that maybe if he would seek treatment, things could be fine.
He wants to keep in touch but as "friends" even though he admits it is weird and that you can't replace a feeling by another. So what's the point? He keeps coming back to it.
He seems fed up by my e-mails but he keeps writing.
He says he would understand if I didn't want to keep in touch and he doesn't want to hurt me more (as if pretending to be friends wouldn't hurt!!!). See my point here ?
So maybe I should give him what he wants? Not staying in touch ?
Here is what I understand : I have the feeling he really wants to keep in touch without any pressure to deliver a feeling, at least in the near future. He is scared by the very idea of talking to me directly because he knows that if we do, he will change his mind as in the past and then not be able to "deliver"

He says "if I did love you enough I wouldn't doubt". But when I ask: "So you don't love me enough", he keeps saying the sentence all over again. He doesn't answer. Wouldn't it be easier to say: "Look I don't love you, sorry I don't want to hurt you". Yeah it would, but then I would walk away. wouldn't I ?

Isn't that a kind of manipulation ? It seems to me! Go but stay! Well stay, but don't expect anything.

Now has anybody some experience with type of behavior ? I noticed that when he thought he could get away with his frienship thing, he opened up and showed more feelings. Is it gratitude ? A way to keep me hooked just enough or is it genuine ? No way of knowing from the outside.

I am asking because a friend of mine had a very tortured and lunatic behavior. His girlfriend is a psychologist (good choice!!!) She didn't let it be until she didn't see any other option anymore, but first she tried the friendship thing to see if the lack of pressure could help him overcome his fears. Well in this case, it didn't help. He was plain miserable, but it didn't help. When she let it be, he changed. See why I am hesitating? If a psychologist thinks it might help to wait and see...
But how can I protect myself ? I wonder how she could patiently wait until he was ready. It wasn't a sure thing!!
Should I play along his frienship thing (hey, does this include telling him of the guys I fancy?) to see what happens like she did ? or be uncompromising right away ? I really have no idea.

By the way, a guy told me "I was the worst thing that ever happened to him" because I was really tough on him. Maybe I am looking too much in people's brains and that scares them off. Maybe this guy gets scared by my insisting on discussing the relationship here and now ? When you had bad experiences, you tend to be very direct.
This raises a lot of questions in him but also in me. That's maybe a good point.

I will think about this. thanks for your help. It makes me think clearer about what I want, what I am willing to accept and what not. Not easy!!