I read your letter with interest and you sound like you have a simalar relationship to mine. I met him about 7 months ago and its gone from us nearly getting married to him being overseas to "sort his head out". He used to say that he loved me also, till one day he said he don;t believe in love and then never said it again. Like you, i also stopped saying it and before he left, he says i love you. Well, I can only say that communication with this man is difficult. I can work it out in my head and know that there is so much to sort out, yet i can;t talk to him about it. I can't advise you on what to do, only tell you that i know how you are feeling and the confusion is emmence. I'm enjoying my time away from him and have realised how much he has hurt me already and have a clearer view on what I want for myself. Mostly I want love and if I can;t have that from him, then I choose love over him.
He emails me now and they always seem very unemotional. Maybe your girl has a point there, cause it's hard to crack a wall down. I understand your need to protect yourself from her too. Just always imagine the worst senario, and then let go. Let go of everything and say hello to urself again.