Thanks for your response. I don't know whether you ever read a book by Somerset Maughn, entitled "Of Human Bondage". It described the kind of dependance that you speak of, and described a man's infatuation with a waitress called Mildred. He does not like himself for being in such "bondage", but cannot quite break free. The whole of the book describes the agonies of this unrequited love. Eventually, he does break free, and marries someone he doesn't "love" with quite the same intensity he loved Mildred, but whom, nevetheless he likes and feels comfortable with. A friendship, in other words - richer and more long lasting, but perhaps not quite so exciting!