Sorry in advance because this is a long one.

I am 38 and have been with my wife since I was 15 years old.

Recently I noticed that she had been distant, wasn’t paying any attention to me. Not really interested in sex and when we did make love it seemed like she was disconnected.

I am so in love with her and have always pictured myself growing old with her. Every version of my future I can think of has her in it.

So a few days ago I told her how I was feeling. I told her how I felt very alone and that I felt like I had lost her and was in mourning.

Her reply cut through me so deep. She said that loves me but is no longer ‘in’ love with me. And she needs space to see if she misses me. The thing is we do have 3 children, 2 are now adults but one is 5 years old. So how do I give space and still see my son?

I agreed to move out because I really want to give her what she needs because I love her so deeply but I also don’t want to let go. I was a mess I cried for a solid 8 hours.

It is my birthday soon and I asked if I could at least stay until after that and I would try to give her the space while I was still here and maybe she would change her mind about me moving out to do this.

My problem now is I think I backed her into a corner and instead of having the space she may resent me for making her feel this way when it already felt bad telling me in the first place how she was feeling.

What do I do? I feel that if I do move out then that will be the end of us. And most likely the end of me. I can’t bear the thought of living without her. I know we share children and I will still have her in my life, but I want to share my all with her.

What if she finds someone else that makes her happy? Of course I want her to be happy but I know it is not something that I could watch. I may be getting ahead of myself but I can’t help but think that it is over in her eyes even though she says that she doesn’t want to give up on us.

I guess what I am asking for is if there is anyone that has went though this and came out of it with a better relationship, did you get back together?

What should I do?

Hi
I know the anguish you are going through ,I am a bit older ,I am 60 and like you love my wife and sex is far and distant and when we do have ,it is like she feels remorse the next day ,so I am trying the process of just ignoring her when she does this and not say anything ,I know this drives her crazy and at this time ,no positive results ,but I know it is eating at her ,s9 when I start to see positive results ,I will let you know
Stay in the game dude