Robin, it is so good to hear from you. Staying with your parents sounds like exactly what you needed right now. Like Pam said, a full time job can be theaputic in that you must focus on other things instead of spiraling down. Pretty soon you get to feel really good about who you are and what you can accomplish on your own. Of course I'm not in a position to know whether you and Alden should get back together, but I do know what a wonderful person you are and that you deserve to only be treated with love and dignity and respect. Your home environment should be a soft place for you to fall. Please don't accept anything other than the kind of treatment to which you are entitled. And if you ever need to hear just what a sweetheart you are, I think there are plenty of people here who will gladly opine on that topic.