Because women want someone who will commit, someone who will include them in their future plans. Someone who is more than just a long term boyfriend/baby's father.
As silly as it sounds, marriage has been idealized to the point where there is a certain amount of mystery surrounding it that "keeps" people in love for better and worse. That is where the phrase "in sickness and in health" comes in. You are promising to yourself, your partner and the guests at the wedding (as your witnesses to the promises made that day) that you will not leave just because one person falls out of love, but that you will work together to keep it "alive" and working, regardless of any hurdles that come in your way.
8 years is one HELLUVA long time to not make any serious move. You can go to the city hall and for $2 get a marriage certificate. The judge can be your witness and that's that. You don't even have to wear a ring, but it is that step that tells a woman that you've committed to her that will keep her around.
It sounds like You Might have been having issues to begin with when she and you interact mostly on a video game. That's not healthy and certainly a little lame. Even more lame that she's "dating" an online guy through a video game and he doesn't even know her. That's a hard loss to take. The best thing to do is to better yourself.
I myself have been broken up within the last 2 months (2 years 8 month relationship). At first it sucks big time. You don't stop thinking and your mind creates all sorts of images and scenarios that you don't even want to begin to think about. But after a while, you start going out with friends again and you find that there are many many many many women out there who are more than willing to hang out and be friends and maybe more.
I personally want to get back together and feel that its something that I really want. So much so that I am willing to give her her space and let her realize what she wants (she doesn't know if she could be as committed as I felt), but at the same time, I'm going out with friends, making new friends, dancing with other girls and having a good time. If time is what it takes for her to come back, then that's what you need to do, or so I've been told. Let her figure out how good she had it compared to internet dweeb playing with his mage in his mom's basement. Remember, don't worry too much about Mr. Sailor boy, he's too far away to poke it into her.
You have to show her that you can function on your own and don't need to be a piece of a relationship unit. That you are your own person. Give up the video game and pick up an outdoors hobby. Fishing, hiking (although the highest peak in Florida is only 305' tall or thereabouts), biking, working out, tiddly winks, be a surfer, any number of things. Hell, become Horatio Caine (from CSI Miami). Be dramatic, be exciting and go play basketball down at the gym and make buddies, go out and get a blow job from some hottie.
I've been going out to the bars, clubs and just hiking around. Fishing is something I want to do more of. I also work. Just keep busy and make sure you get remedial help for your anger and make sure that when you're angry that what you're going to do is not going to hurt you or those you care about. Especially her, make sure you at some point in time apologize and seek repentance from her for the wrongs that you did and make sure that she sees that you've matured.
Don't be afraid to commit to something and stick with it. Just because you give some girl a ring doesn't mean that it has to be a religious thing, it can be a token of acceptance, love and gratitude that someone else feels the same way as you and wants to share more than just a friendship, they want to share your future and you theirs.
Good luck, you're where I was 2 months ago. Its shitty, it sucks, but you will get better.
