A former colleague has been a good friend to me through my divorce and from work. We were close but only had contact a few times a month which was fine. Now he has had some health problems and is also working from home. He has started calling or texting several times a week and wants to talk for a long time.

I feel badly for him and I don’t know how to tell him I need him to back off. By the way, it’s not a romantic relationship on either side at all.