We recently heard from Amy, who was dating Craig. Craig is one of those guys who can only take a relationship so far before he hits a wall. He fades. One minute he's there; the next he's gone.

"He appeared to be everything any woman could want," said Amy. "It was wonderful for about four months. Then things started to change."

He started to fade, with fewer calls and texts. His excuse was usually his 12-year-old daughter who had ADHD and was failing school. She had meltdowns when asked to do chores or homework.

Amy tried to break up with him, but he kept saying, "Things will get better."

"I began to realize that the relationship could get to a certain point and then no further," she says.

She finally told him she didn't want to see him anymore. She hasn't heard from him since.

She admits: "The relationship was one of the most draining, depressing, and stressful I've ever experienced. He left me feeling unloved, unattractive, and uncared for. I'm angry at myself for having wasted so much time. I should've ended it the minute his words didn't match his actions — the give-away of an emotionally unavailable person."

Well, today we hear from Ally, whose girlfriend Calista is dating Craig — the very same Craig!

Dear Cheryl: When I read the article about Amy and Craig, I couldn't believe it. The man in the story is still at it, only this time he's pulling the same thing on my best friend, Calista. There are the same variables, from the 12-year-old daughter with the meltdowns, to the lack of texting, to the claim that things will get better.

My friend is still seeing this jerk, and I'm worried about her. It was so eerie reading that article that it scared me for her. I've seen her cry over this guy too many times. I've seen her wait for him for a date night out only to have him stand her up. She's told all of her friends and family about him, but he's told no one about her. She says she's tired of being a secret. — Concerned Friend

Dear Concerned Friend: I think the best you can do for your friend is show her the original article and point out the obvious similarities. Amy was with Craig for nine months. She has since heard that she was the person he's dated the longest since his second divorce 10 years ago.

"My guess," says Amy, "is that he treated all the women this way, I just tolerated it the longest. Things were so great in the beginning, I wanted to believe Craig when he told me that things would get better. I finally realized they wouldn't."

Have Calista read this. Maybe she'll realize Craig is acting exactly the same with her as he has with every other woman he's been with in the past decade. If that doesn't change her mind, nothing will.

After that, all you can do is be there to help her through the inevitable heartbreak.

Have you been with an emotionally unavailable person? Send your tale, along with your questions and problems to [email protected]. And check out my e-books, "Dear Cheryl: Advice from Tales from the Front" and "I'll Call You. Not.