L....I actually enjoyed your story. Sometimes I feel that way about my W. When she was telling me about wanting a D etc, at times made me feel that no matter what I did she knew something was missing in how I made her feel and that I would never be able to provide it to her. I could be wrong because obviously I did something for 16 years but it could be my reality that I am your friends husband.
We have no choice but to face it because most of them are not coming back. The quicker we accept it the better off we will be IMO.