SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A never-married 57-year-old woman confessed in a Dear Abby column that she feels irresistibly drawn to her ex-boyfriend despite evidence he has been stalking her, prompting columnist Abigail Van Buren to warn of ongoing danger and recommend free mental health resources.

The woman, who signed her letter ‘Heart Ruling the Head,’ described meeting ‘Bill’ three years ago at a resort casino. Their relationship started strong but soured. She tried multiple times to end it, only for Bill to reappear because they frequented the same spots. Four months ago, she finally cut ties after he acted rudely, according to her account published Tuesday in the Press Democrat.

A neighbor alerted her to the stalking, which Bill denies despite her proof. Still, she wrote, ‘I’m still drawn to him. He’s the only man in my life who ever told me he loves me.’ Frequent ‘bump-ins’ fuel her conflicted feelings, even as she recognizes his mental instability. Therapy is out of reach financially, she added.

Van Buren, known professionally as Dear Abby, responded bluntly. ‘Honey, if you no longer frequent the places you used to frequent together and keep running into him anyway, has it occurred to you that it’s happening because he’s still stalking you?’ she wrote. She advised altering routines immediately and opening up to new relationships. ‘This troubled individual may be the only person who has said “I love you,” but he won’t be the last.’

Van Buren pointed to accessible help: free or low-cost counseling through county mental health departments or university psychology programs. The column, syndicated nationwide, highlighted risks of codependent dynamics in volatile relationships.

In a second letter, ‘Uncertain in Idaho’ sought guidance after chatting online with a man claiming to be a famous pro wrestler amid marriage troubles. He complained his wife was ‘getting too old for him’ and said their joint bank account was frozen, then requested an Apple card gift card. She refused, prioritizing aid for her siblings, but worried her life was spiraling.

Van Buren dismissed the tale as a classic internet fraud. ‘People must exercise caution when communicating with strangers online,” she stated. ‘”Famous pro wrestlers” usually have enough money that they aren’t reduced to hitting up people they meet on the internet for Apple cards.’ She instructed the woman to ghost and block him immediately to regain control.

Columns like these, running daily since 1956 under Van Buren or her daughter Jeanne Phillips, draw millions of readers grappling with personal dilemmas. Experts note they often spotlight broader societal issues, from domestic abuse patterns to online predation spikes. The FBI reported over 20,000 romance scam complaints last year, with losses topping $1 billion.

Stalking affects 1 in 10 women in their lifetimes, according to the National Center for Victims of Crime. Idaho saw a 15% rise in reported cyberstalking cases from 2022 to 2023, state records show. Dear Abby’s no-nonsense replies continue to resonate, blending empathy with practical steps.

Readers can submit letters via dearabby.com. The Press Democrat published these on Feb. 18, 2026.