I have been in a 3-year relationship with someone who has just decided to throw it all away. It hurts and I think a lot of it is that he feels he will fail me. We lived together for over 2 years and here in AL are common law married. Now he is already moved on to someone who he hasn't met yet on the internet. I entrusted him with our life...we were planning on moving to GA and I was already 98% there. Now I have to figure out how to get my things back and what to do about the debts we have together.

Help!

Dear Chips, my heart aches for you. I'm afraid it will be hard for you to find much sympathy here, because it seems the people just don't understand that living with someone, you can love them just as much as if you were married to them, and it hurts just as much when things go wrong. Maybe it hurts more because married people and society don't seem to give you the "right" to hurt, after all if you wanted that "right" you would have got married, wouldn't you? So what right do you have to even complain - you got what you wanted, no strings, so nothing's broken, just get on with it. Anyway, I just want you to know I understand that there WERE strings and there WAS understanding between you, and now your partner has betrayed that understanding, and things ARE broken and you don't know how to fix them. Pray to God, HE understands, even when people don't, that maybe you haven't exactly followed the "plan" by not getting legally married, but you loved your bf and tried to do your best and now you're even more left than if you were married because you have no recourse. Ask God for help, I did and do every day, and I believe he hears us and will help, HE knows how to fix things. I'll pray for you too, God bless you.

I have been praying about it. I just feel a huge loss almost like a death. I thank you for your prayers.