Hello, I'm a separated mother of 2 who started a relationship with a coworker several months ago. He is quite a bit younger than me so we were friends for a long time, as I couldn't imagine being romantically involved. As well, I didn't want to damage what a great friendship we had. He had a girlfriend he was planning on breaking up with but was trying to give it time and make sure he'd done everything he could before he ended it.

However, I couldn't help it anymore and professed my love, which was returned mutually. We talked about logistics - could he love someone with kids? Is he going to break up with the girlfriend? Does he mind that I'm older? Every question was met with emphatic excitement and positivity. We just felt so lucky to have found each other, we were waking on air. We wrote emails back and forth that "romantic" doesn't begin to describe. I'd never had anyone feel this way before.

Then his girlfriend ended the relationship herself by cheating. This devastated him as he said it had happened before. Still, he'd express sadness but also told me how lucky we were to be getting our own chance. He told me he loved me.

Then something happened and I don't now what. One day he just wasn't there anymore. Sort of still him but not. He said he had no idea how he felt. From here we broke up and made up 3 or so times. Each the pattern being love, sex, total withdrawl, my calling him out on it and ending things, him coming back, love, sex, etc. when he's "here", I don't even need a profession of love - I can tell. When he's gone, he looks terrified and sad and empty.

Finally this week he said he feels nothing for me. That he can't believe all those things he ever wrote or felt, because he sure doesn't now. He stared at me and said he's sorry he dragged me into this, but he was going through something - something he'd been through 2 years ago that he didn't want to comment on. Something in which he "did something" in front of his family and now he's labeled as having risky behavior. He was crying and shaking saying this. Saying he's vulnerable and an emotional wreck. He said its not me at all. But he said he truly feels nothing whatsoever and doesn't know when it went away. But I asked him if I pushed him and he said "maybe". He said he still has feeling for the ex who cheated (even though I'm not sure he had feelings for her even when we were just friends months before).

We had made life plans. We had talked about our future. We had said we loved each other. I've never - even with my husband - had this kind if mutual adoration with anyone. We were great friends for about 9 months before we were anything else. I hate seeing him struggle. He's has the nicest soul I've ever seen.

Right now, I'm here for him as a friend, which he seems to appreciate. Was our "relationship" just a manic episode?