Emotional affair makes the workplace wobbly
It is not easy to roll back this sort of intimacy, but it will get easier with time. You have a large emotional gap to fill. You have to "behave" your way out of this, and your feelings will follow.
For now, you and she should not communicate outside of work. Talking with her about your mutual feelings reinforces the emotional intimacy.
If working together is triggering too much emotion or sadness for you, you should pursue different assignments, which will take you into other professional and personal realms.
You need to build up a life that is separate from this person. You should force yourself to meet new people. Get out there. Take up a new activity outside of work. Give other women the opportunity to get to know you.
Dear Amy: My wife has a friend, "Donna." They've been close since college.
Donna is high maintenance and selfish, but I've always been nice to her, and have no trouble interacting with her.
I do not like the way Donna treats my wife. She is demanding, completely self-centered and domineering.
My wife works full time. We have two children. Donna works from home and is single. Everything is based around Donna's scheduling, and if my wife objects, Donna flips out.
My wife has cried many times over something hurtful Donna has said to her. When my wife doesn't go along with Donna, she tends to cancel all future plans, ignore all communication and wait for my wife to come crawling back, which she always does.
My wife is planning a group trip for my 40th birthday. I've asked her not to include Donna on the invite list. She is very concerned about how Donna will react and what this might do to their friendship.
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