You don't ever stop loving them.

This person played an important part in your journey. Although the experience may not have been an optimal one in terms of happy ever after... as Jai so rightly pointed out there are valuable lessons within the experience that you can learn from and take forward into your next relationship.

When I say that you don't ever stop loving them I am referring to that true love that exists within each of us... by denying that you invalidate the relationship and deny part of your own being.However this doesn't mean that you can't move on and develop a new loving physical relationship with someone else.

Is there such a thing as sending you someone to replace them?

I'm assuming that you're talking about replacing them with someone similar... why would you want to do that? Look at what you learned from this relationship...take what is good; realize what didn't work so you can focus on the parts that did work and carry that into your next relationship.

Is it healthy to pretend that someone never existed?

You can pretend if you want but I wouldn't recommend it.This person has played an important role in your evolution and growth so by denying them you are denying that. What we deny will always come back and haunt us at a future date albeit in a different guise. By pretending they didn't exist you may just set yourself up to attract a similar relationship in the future. Use some of the tools LeeAnn suggested to help get yourself to a better feeling place because only from there can you begin to attract a new healthy relationship into your experience and not a replica of the old one.

The pain will fade with time and as you learn and grow your own perception will change and you will realize the important part this relationship played in your journey. Place your attention on your own growth ( nothing is more important ).. things will work out :)

( Sorry a couple of keys on my keyboard are sticking including the comma )

Time helps heal this void that one would feel when someone close is not in their life anymore. Happier feelings can feel a long ways off though when a break-up is still fresh. I suggest getting into the vortex as often as possible through that healing period....e.g. making yourself happy, finding yourself again...seeing movies that you like, listening to music you enjoy, decorating your space in a pleasing way, seeing friends, and doing other things that make you feel content again. Soon, everything will improve.

the trick is that you NEED to still love them. i do understand that you do not desire the memory of someone who has hurt you so badly, BUT, if you didn't still love them then you should worry, then this would show a self serving person. the thing that my source has taught me that i have had the WORST time getting used to or adapting to, is that to love good people can be fairly easy , but to love the ones who mean to harm you in the mental, emotional, or physical sense, thats what separates the ones who show their light the most brightly!, i will just say this. for you having these feelings, shows you are on the right path. the path of positivity, unconditional love, and service to others, tell you what . i think thats a GOOD thing! hope this helps you in your hard times my friend :-) love n light, rob

The person will always exist as long as you want them to.
As will the love(loving physical relationship),as long as you want it to.
Your remembering of the past brings it to the present.Stingray put up a community wiki about addictions with a long quote from Bashar If you read that quote and instead of an addiction think of the relation you are still having with your past.
peace

Old loves, like old habits, die hard.

That being said, there are ways to make the healing process easier. We often look back at old relationships, and wonder how things went wrong. Since the relationship is in the past, try to leave it there. Take from it what you learned. Those lessons are priceless, and hard-won.

I am going through a divorce, and it has been painful. But I now know where I went wrong, and what I did wrong. I am hoping to do much better in my new relationship.

I strongly recommend journaling as a way to uncover the lessons, and to see what you need in a new relationship. Then try to manifest new relationships that will help make you happy. Seek out people that need your help. Seek to give of yourself, and see what comes of it. Do not throw out the whole past- as I said, there are lessons there that are invaluable.

Work on your relationship with God, and see how improving that improves everything.

I hope this helps! Blessings, and much luck to you, Jai

Perhaps the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else!

That may be a bit simplistic. There was a certain vibration that drew you to this person. Certain characteristics. You now know better what you are wanting. Look at what felt good in that relationship. This will lead you to a better relationship.