You all have similar stories, so I will give you the all-too-familiar basics--

1. He swept me off my feet with attention, affection, great sex, fancy dinners, trips, expensive gifts, and promises of a life together--forever.

2. Several months later, he started controlling me--who I could be friends with, where I could go, how I should see the world.

3. Even though I tried to do everything he wanted, he began to withdraw from me. He became critical of my work, and he made me feel guilty when he spent money on me. Then he played it off like he loved spending money on me.

4. A year into the relationship, he began to ignore me when we were together, but said he wanted me with him.

5. I broke up with him.

6. A few days later, he professed undying love for me, said he was a fool,, begged forgiveness. I gave it to him.

7. The next day, he sent me a stupid houseplant for my birthday. Not even flowers--a plant. The year before he gave me a Cartier necklace and roses.

8. A month later, he was back to acting like he didn't want to be near me. I broke up with him again. A week later, he came to my house at 2am, swept me off my feet, and acted like he had in the beginning. I took him back again.

9. This rollercoaster continued for another year. We broke up at least 6 times.

10. When we were together, he would lie about his plans so that I couldn't make plans with him. He was rarely available, and always working. He never wanted anyone--not me or his family or his daughter--to know his work schedule ahead of time. He always wanted us to sit around and wait for him to have time for us.

11. I asked very little of him. From time to time, I would ask him to say something nice to me--to tell me how he felt about me. He would say I was putting him "on the spot" and refuse. To win me back after a break-up, he had no problem spouting sonnets. When we were together, however, he couldn't even compliment my outfit.

12. He loved to text and email but hated to talk on the phone. After completely screwing me over on Christmas, he sent a text asking if I was mad at him. I told him via text--his favorite method of communication--that we were through and he would never get another chance with me. He wrote an apologetic email a few days later, but I never responded.

13. I haven't heard from him since.

14. I hope I never do.