 (Nick Galifianakis for The Post) | Carolyn Hax is away. The following first appeared Feb. 7, 2007. Dear Carolyn: My boyfriend's parents split up a few years ago after 23 years of marriage and it left him devastated. His mother just up and left and never looked back. He was very angry with her. One year after the split she passed away from cancer without any warning. He never had an opportunity to reconcile with her and still has a lot of guilt. After their divorce he adopted the attitude of "nothing lasts forever." While he professes his undying love for me often, he does not seem too keen on the idea of marriage. After I felt comfortable enough to tell him he was the one I wanted to marry, he countered with, "Why is marriage so important? Is a piece of paper going to make you love me more?" To hear him degrade my confession was very hurtful. How can I get him to realize that not all relationships are like his parents'? I am ready to love him forever; how can I get him to see that? — Hopeful in California | 
