Crisi,
What a crappy situation. I assume that the relationship we are talking about is a long distance one. That being the case it is SOOOO hard to regain trust that you have lost when you have nothing physical to judge with.
First of all Emie is a rabid dog and the only thing to do with rabid dogs is to shoot them and put them out of their misery. Since Paula cannot do that, or she goes to jail, she should "kill her" from her life... Emie cannot be trusted with anything. Faithful in the small things faithful in all things... works the other way around too.
The guy.. "Guy" is in a VERY tough spot. First of all if I am relying on Paula for emotional support and not Emie, then what Paula tells me will have more weight with me than what Emie tells me. However, Emie has entered in a grain of doubt into the relationship that must be eliminated. If I were Guy I would ask Paula what the deal was? Now I do not think Paula praying about a possible future with Guy is a lie in the first place. It is simply a relationship evolving ... and a person not completely certain where it is at the time. SO Paula needs to tell Guy, "We have been talking for a while and I have always been there for you. As we have talked I have started thinking that something more than friends might be possible, so I am praying to God about it... I feel I might be becoming attracted to you... what do you think about that?"
Simple, straight forward and too the point. Personally, I would be flattered not angry at Paula, so as Guy I would either say, well sorry Paula, I just am not thinking of you that way, or I would say Great .. lets's dance
I do not think "praying to God" about a POTENTIAL relationship is deceiving or wrong in any way.
I do not see Paula doing anything wrong here, unless she has lied about something. Developing feelings for someone you are sharing intimate pains and details of their lives is perfectly normal, and ALL relationships evolve. Would it be better if Paula THINKS she MIGHT have feelings for Guy and blurt it out without contemplating it? Without thinking about it to make certain the feelings are real? No way, not if she cares for Guy. If she was completely selfish she might jump before she thought about it, but if she really has HIS and her interests at heart, she should NOT say anything until she is certain.
But in any case, Emie no longer exists for Paula.
BIll