rough mate, rough.
shout me on e-mail. we can sort everything out with our friend beer.
take it easy.
Crusoe, I’m really sorry to hear about that. I’ve been through the same thing too after six years, and it took me a long time to recover.
It’s a period of grieving like any other, and it’s going to be rough. I “coped” by leaving the country, but that didn’t make it any easier. I threw myself into my job, which took care of a good part of the day. After about three months I had stopped drinking or crying myself to sleep every night. After four months I could find myself going a whole hour without thinking about her. After about five months I started using the long empty hours to write fiction, which is something I hadn’t been doing when we were still together. After six I was still very bruised, but able to function like a normal human being.
It was really fucking hard, but it gets better, little by little, over time, with a few regressions thrown in every few weeks to make you think it won’t get better. But it will.
Oh, and by the way, I bored the shit out of my friends by whining about it incessantly. I suggest you do the same, as it’s pretty therapeutic.
I’m so very, very sorry. 
So many good responses in this thread. Keep them in mind.
And can I add, that sometimes doing something for those around you can really change your outlook on things. Not a fix for the problem but a way to take your mind off it for a while.
See if there is a shelter or orphanage in your area. Maybe a local school needs a volunteer to read to the kids? A nursing home might have a granparent type program?
I read that you said you couldn’t really have a pet…what about a local animal shelter or vet that could use your help as a volunteer?
I hope the rest of 2004 treats you better than you are feeling right now.
Hang in there.
Thanks all. For what it’s worth, today is a little better than yesterday, which can only be a good sign.
It does get better Crusoe. I’m living proof of that. Just when you think there is nothing to really give much of a damn about, you find something worthy of your attention.
For example: (Tongue firmly in cheek)
1: Cake!
(Always a very good distraction. Not good for you, but that makes it even more desireable. Never met a cake I didn’t like. OK, apart from chocolate cake.)
2: Descent Freespace2!
(Yes, very playable, a lot of fun, has the only buttons you need in any game: Up, down, left, right and FIRE!)
3: Forums!
(Just when you think there is nothing fun about the internet, you find out that there is LOTS fun about the internet, and the people on it)
And there we have 3 staples of life. Food, fun, and more fun!
In any case, taking each day at a time is the only advice I can give you Crusoe. It’ll work out. No matter how much time passes.
As always, best regards.
Logic.
Word. 
You’ve had enough good advice in this thread already, I’ll only re-iterate that having friends who understand you is good at this time. Even if they mercilessly slag the shit out of you.
(I’m looking at jjimm here).