Dear Pastor,

I am a 21-year-old man and I have been reading your column from I was in high school. I am at a prominent college in western Jamaica. I have been in a relationship for three years and it was good for the first two, but for the last year it has been a complete disaster. I have tried everything to keep the relationship going, but it has really come to a bump as I find myself not being able to focus in classes.

The problem started when I saw my girlfriend with a hickey on her neck after not seeing her for almost a month. She claimed that our relationship was boring and that her best friend was having a better relationship.

I thought oral sex was lacking, so I obliged and we did it.

A week later, she sent me a text message, saying it was over. That happened last week.

What am I supposed to do? My life feels as if it isn't worth anything.

J.P.

Dear J.P.,

You need to get smart. You are behaving like a dumb young man. When you saw your girlfriend with an hickey, you should have known she didn't get that because a mosquito had bit her.

It was placed there because, evidently, she had made love to another man.

You made yourself silly by going down on her, believing by doing so she would have considered herself special and express gratitude to you.

It did not matter to her. That didn't make her feel special. Perhaps someone had done that to her before.

Young man, put this young woman behind you. If you don't, you will fail your exams, and that wouldn't matter to her. Allow her to go her way. Don't beg her to keep the relationship going. She is not interested in you. She has her interest elsewhere. Wish her well.

Pastor