Soon after my parents' recent divorce, my father was diagnosed with rapidly progressing Alzheimer's Disease. My brother, an alcoholic, took on power of attorney and health care agency for our ailing father, and guilted me into agreeing to madcap schemes for his care. Though I had already written the mean old man out of my life for neglecting and hating me as a child, there is no one else to help (mother is happily married elsewhere), and so I took a bit of responsibility, embroiling myself in a disastrous mess. The dysfunction is off the charts.

Through it all, Rob has listened carefully, offered sane advice, and accompanied me on difficult visits to my father.

So despite the lack of romance, attraction, or even sex, I can't say our relationship is without incredible benefits.

However, by now I've bucked up enough to deal with my father and brother without collapsing at every new turn. Last year I didn't dare give up on my marriage because I needed Rob's support elsewhere in my life. (Writing that, I realize I'm a bit of a user.) Now that I don't need him, and there's nothing else keeping us together, a new unraveling has begun.