I hear you mb. H and I have been together for 17 years as well and the rejection is so painful. It sounds like your meeting popped a bubble for your H regarding how easy it would be to live "happily ever after".
I really recommend this book...it will put into words everything you are going through:
me: 42 | STBXH: 41 | T: 18 | M: 10 | separation: Jan 3, 2010 | they deserve better: S7 & D4 current thread: http://tinyurl.com/3y8sxcp .: first breathe, then heal, then start LIVING :.