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I came to Elit in search of a compatible place to share my (abridged) memoirs, now getting a final polish and being posted in an adjacent thread. While browsing the different stories to take the temperature of this place (and finding it well suited to my tastes), I was drawn into OP’s story and have now joined the many unfortunate souls chained to our computers, ever anticipating the return of our own m'sieur Godot.
I can only beg his legion of other fans to take my word for it that I had my own narrative completely typed out, with the exception of a few details, when I encountered this story, and all similarities (and I see there are many) are completely coincidental. This in itself lends OP’s story a ring of authenticity for me, despite his (quite proper) disclaimer that it is purely a work of fiction.
From my own experience and exchanging notes with many others with similar histories, both as the older and younger partners in the relationships, I sense a very familiar pattern, especially in the growing emotional connection between the parties. These affairs often begin (relatively) innocently, develop organically and graduate to deep emotional and spiritual bonds, at least for the younger partner, who necessarily has a smaller well of emotional experience to draw from. I could go on and on, but I’m (mercifully) shutting up.
TL, DR: New reader; totally hooked!