I'm a single woman in my 20's working as a professional in an office. A male colleague, who's 10-15 years older, shows excessive personal interest in me, and I'd like to know how to make it stop.
On my first day here, he invited me for coffee and I agreed, thinking it was a collegial gesture. He asked if I was married. I found it rather unprofessional, but answered. When he stops to chat with me in the office -relatively often - I've been crisp and professional.

Sometimes I just pick up a file and walk out of my office to end the discussion. But this hasn't deterred him from being very inquisitive about my personal life, sometimes in front of colleagues.

On several occasions our team has been in meetings, or out for lunch and, despite my obvious effort to avoid him, he has either sat, or walked, next to me. I'm angry about being cornered this way. At one point, he brushed his arm against mine and I suspect it was not accidental.
If this weren't a work situation, I would just walk away from it, or directly tell him to back off, but I'm feeling socially trapped. Because he has been subtle and not harassing, I don't want to have a one-on-one discussion that may backfire on me.
Am I overreacting to the situation? How can I shut down his personal questions? And how can I keep him physically at a distance without appearing rude or antisocial?

My biggest concern is to avoid embarrassment and reputation damage down the line.
Socially trapped

Unless I'm missing something here, which you haven't written, I do think you're overreacting. After all, it's not that difficult or considered rude to show that you're a private person by saying politely, with a smile, "I don't like to discuss personal details. I appreciate your friendly interest, but I prefer to be private about myself at work."

If there are other factors - if he's in a higher position and could block your career path, or he's married - I suggest you quietly document what you feel are intrusive occasions, and if you ever feel it's necessary, inform your supervisor or the human relations department.

Meanwhile, continue to act distant, and when he next brushes near you, move farther away and say, "I like my personal space, and want you to respect it."

My girlfriend wanted a break and ended it nastily, and then I did something out of revenge. She tried to make me fix it, but I didn't. She doesn't want to even be friends anymore because I hurt her (though she hurt me, too).

It's been two months of no contact. We both made mistakes, and she ended it. I want to make amends and end on a positive note. I want closure. How can I fix this, apologize, and make her see that she did wrong too?

Bad Ending

The best "closure" is to learn from your own mistake and not repeat that behaviour. Yes, you should apologize for your revenge tactic, whatever it was. Whether she apologizes or wants closure is her decision.... but the longer you wait for it, or try to achieve a different kind of ending, the longer you're holding on to the relationship even though it's over.

Apologize, because it's the decent thing to do, so you can be that person instead of the one who handled this so badly. Then, move on.

After 18 years, I discovered that my husband had an "emotional affair," and that it was one of many. We've been divorced for four years.

I took the time to heal and look after myself as well as my child. I was not looking for a relationship, but eventually met a wonderful man.

We have been together for two and a half years now. I have healed from the past and know what I will and will not accept. It makes moving forward much easier.

Thanks for sharing a textbook approach to "moving on." You recognized when it was obvious that his emotional attachments elsewhere would continue.

And by focusing first on your child's and your own well being, you could then assess when it felt safe to trust again. Moving on means not being haunted by the past, yet still being reasonably alert to any troubling signs that may arise in the future.