Dear Prudence,
I need to break up with my girlfriend. We started to date in college, but when we graduated, I had to move for a great career opportunity, and she had to stay for a great academic one. We decided to date long distance and trust in the power of our love. It turns out the power of our love has nothing on the power of my libido. I haven’t cheated, but I will if we keep it long distance. I miss going on dates, holding hands, having sex, and just being with someone in the same room. The problem is that my girlfriend had to go home for the summer because of a family member’s health problems and plans to fly out to see me in October. I obviously can’t let her fly out to California and then dump her. Under the circumstances, can I break up with her by phone, maybe once she is back at college?
—Face to Face