Dear Cr-Abby from Heartbroken in Ohio

FALLING FOR MARRIED MAN MAKES FIRST LOVE PAINFUL
DEAR ABBY: I am 20 years old and had never been in love until recently. The only problem is, the man I fell for is married.
I knew "Craig" was married when I began talking to him at work. We have never "done" anything but talk, but sometimes that's all it takes. Craig was going through a separation, and we talked every day for hours at a time.
Now he doesn't want to talk at all. He says he needs time and doesn't want anyone to get hurt, but I am already hurt. I try to talk to him, but he doesn't respond. Craig is ignoring me now, and it's very painful. I have already fallen for him, and I am more than willing to wait, but each passing day it gets harder and harder.
Please advise me on what to do. Is love worth all the pain? -- HEARTBROKEN IN OHIO



Dear Cardiac Critical in Cleveland,

The bad news is you were used as a therapists without the payday, the good news is your only f'ing 20, there is long road ahead left for more mistakes to be made. I won't help you for me to say this, but it is still true in the coming weeks/months you will feel better,...the only thing prolonging your pain is pining for what has already past or what never was.

Craig used you, maybe unknowingly or without malice, but he used you as an emotion pin cushion and you thought your were in a relationship. Men are ego driven creatures and when their love life goes south there is a need to have another filly sniffing around the stable just to fed the oats.

I'll stop short of scolding you for walking into a married relationship and then protest the predictable result,...but it could have ended worst (i.e. Lorena Bobbit for him, Tony Budafoco for you) so in a sense you're lucky to have escaped with only an emotional flesh wound.

So, my advice,..go find a co-worker and cry on his shoulder for a few weeks, lead him on, and then, when you feel better, dump him. You know that ole crap runs down hill thing.

Cr-Abby