Dear Pastor,

I am a 24-year-old woman living in Canada. I have been dating a 26-year-old man for about two years and I am deeply in love with him. We have been living together for the past year and a half. We used to be close to each other to the point that we could tell each other anything. He became my best friend. This happiness all ended in December of last year. I don't know what went wrong. He has changed completely.

One night a couple of my friends and I were going to the movies, but the plans were changed and we ended up at a club. I tried to call home to let my boyfriend know about the plans, but I couldn't reach him. I got home about 2 a.m. and he was sitting up waiting for me. We got into a big argument about my whereabouts. I tried to explain that I tried to call him, but he would not have it. It happened so fast that I didn't see it coming. He got so angry that he back handed me so hard, I fell to the floor. I tried to get up, but he kicked me back down. I was so frightened with his actions towards me that I just curled on the floor and cried myself to sleep. The next morning I woke up next to him in bed. We didn't talk for about a week.

Everyday for that week, he tried to apologise to me with gifts and promises to never hit me again. Soon, I fell into his trap and acc-epted his apology. He lived up to his promise for a couple of weeks. He became extremely abusive towards me whenever we had an argument. The last straw was the other day when he beat me badly that I ended up in the hospital with a busted lip and bruised ribs.

Pastor, I am at the end of the road with this man. It is really hard for me to let him go because I love him so much and he is my first. I want to work things out with him, but I am afraid that things will not change. Please, give me your fatherly advice.

E.S., Ontario, Canada

Dear E.S.,

I wonder whether you have picked out your casket because the next time he might beat you to death. If this man has to beat you to show you his love for you, he will always do so.

How come you have not called the police? It is only a matter of time before he beats you again. Mark my word. You need to bring an end to this relationship.

Pastor