Setback causes man to cut ties

Dear Abby: I had a boyfriend for two years until a few days ago. He’s a 40year-old easygoing paraplegic (from a car accident long before I met him), and I’m an easygoing 36-year-old woman with two kids from a previous marriage.

We had a great connection and had the same interests.

I’m his first girlfriend, so he was new to the concept of having someone love him in spite of every little flaw he had (which were very few). I told him so many times that no matter what was wrong, I was going to stick by his side.

Recently, he’s had a medical problem with a few ulcerated sores. This sometimes happens to paraplegics. Unfortunately, his doctor has said he needed to leave his apartment temporarily and go into a nursing facility to get round-theclock care. A few months went by, with plenty of visits from friends, family, and me and my daughters. (He always introduces us as his family.)

The doctor now says he may need to stay there for a year, and I know he became immediately depressed. He sent me a text saying he thinks we should just be friends, and he doesn’t want a reminder of what he can’t do anymore. I feel like this isn’t him, that he’s jumping to rash conclusions because of stress. I don’t want to end the relationship. I’m willing to keep moving forward and get through this speed bump together.

He won’t answer my calls or texts, and I’m at a loss about what I should do next. I want to keep him so badly. My heart aches every day worrying about this. He may lose a year of freedom, but I’m losing a lifelong companion.

Dear Heavy Heart: You really have no choice but to follow this man’s lead. Remember, you promised to support him no matter what. Agree to be “just friends,” although it won’t be easy if he wants to remain incommunicado. In the meantime, stay as active with other friends as you can.

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