DEAR ABBY: My dad started an affair with a woman who is four years older than I am. He met her when he hired her for her “services.” Fast-forward a year: He has left my mom. Mom left the state and has moved in with me. She’s trying to rebuild her life, but she’s still very much in love with my dad.

Dad, on the other hand, is miserable. His girlfriend is controlling to the point that he’s not allowed to talk to his children or grandchildren. She’s an alcoholic who mentally, verbally and physically abuses him. He recently left her and came to stay at my house. He told Mom and me that he wanted a fresh start.

Abby, he was here for less than 48 hours and went back to the girlfriend! I am convinced that he either has a drug problem or he’s sick. He has lost an extreme amount of weight. I have no idea how to help him and I’m terrified that he is going to die.

Now he won’t talk to me. He left while I was at work so he wouldn’t have to face me. I don’t understand why he would come here only to turn right around and leave. I am disgusted, disappointed and angry. Should I cut all ties with him until he gets his life together?

— Disappointed daughter

DEAR DISAPPOINTED: Considering what has been going on, your feelings are natural. However, because you are unsure about what is driving your father — addiction, illness, indecision, etc. — do not “cut all ties.” Leave the door ajar a little longer. There’s a saying, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” Victims sometimes need several attempts to leave their abusers, and your dad may be no exception.

DEAR ABBY: I have been dating a wonderful girl for about seven months. We’re sophomores in college. She’s sweet, kind, extraordinarily talented, and we treat each other wonderfully. Everything has been great, with the occasional disagreement.

The problem is that I’m starting to notice that she seems to be homophobic. I was raised in a liberal, open-minded home, whereas hers was much more conservative. She never met a homosexual until college. She has talked about feeling uncomfortable with two men kissing or talking about being intimate.

At first, I thought she’d be equally uncomfortable with straight couples doing the same thing, but she wasn’t. When I tell her that I support marriage equality and the LGBTQ community, she gets very quiet and uneasy.

I care for her, but I don’t know if I can be with someone who’s this uncomfortable about homosexuality. What do you think I should do? This is a very important issue to me, and I would love your insight.

— Torn college sophomore

DEAR TORN: She may be a wonderful girl, but whether you are wonderful for each other is open to question. Try to project ahead. If the two of you were to marry and she was unable to overcome her aversion to gay people, to what extent would it limit your ability to interact with them? Or their ability to have a relationship with you?

Let this play out a little longer to see if she’s able to evolve with more exposure. If she’s not, then she may not be the one for you.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.