That wasn't a case of jumping to conclusions. I mean, it was pretty obvious who she was talking about. It only hurt because I had a sense that she really liked me. Had I never talked to her and heard this, it would have been just another one of countless comments I've either heard or had told to my face such as "you're a nice guy BUT". (I could write a book on rejection quotes) I'm now 43 and I can't live my entire life being just friends with women. I'm human and I would like to know what love, affection, and other things are like before I die. I have the saddest gut feeling it will never happen. It's not like I'm 20 and saying this, I'm in my 40s and that is pathetic.

Anyway, the last thing I want to do is start another situation like the last time. Every person who's responded to this has shown that they really do care and it means a lot to me.