Hi, ECHOES, many times I have met online friends in person and they are very real to me. I even made a very close friend who I have seen several times. We live at a great distance but that didn't matter. Now I'm on the receiving end of being cut off and you are right, it is extremely painful. It's a lot like mourning the death of a loved one, but the friend is quite alive and refuses to communicate with me. It burns and stings like nothing I have ever experienced. I am sad and hurt, frustrated and confused. Mostly, it's sadness because it is the worst feeling of rejection I have ever had in my life.

I wish I had a way to make us both feel better. I guess my only defense mechanism is to live out the mourning process and give myself the time to let it go. Knowing how intensely painful this has been for me, I doubt I'll ever trust that much of my heart to any other person. It's really hard and I feel for you.