Uh, I really understand what you're talking about, Lady. I've had so many similar situations, and I've never experienced love either. I've had a few relationships along the way, but it always ended not too well, and I've been taken advantage of and walked over more than I can remember... And yet the "good" guys, the ones who actually treat others the way the deserve to be treated, pick the wrong women, and wind up getting hurt just as much as we have. I wish that I could give you more hope, share my life experiences and tell you that because it happened to me, it can also happen to you - but I haven't quite experienced that yet. I know though, just from reading this message, that you are an incredible woman, and although you've been waiting for a long time, the right one will cross paths with you sooner or later, and things will fall into place. Just don't give up hope, because even though now if feels as if you're jinxed, the one that you're looking for probably feels the same way. I'm not sure if this helped at all, but I truly hope that it did maybe we could talk more about this too... and as for your colleague - I don't think that her relationship will last very long unless she changes the way that she approaches it, however that's not anything that's worth our time, energy, and/or thoughts.