I have found that being a DOM brings with it a unique level of vunrablity and pain.
As you take responsibility for the care and nurture of you sub you invest not only time but more and more of yourself. They become an extension of you.
It therefore comes as an incredibly painful experience when you understand you Sub no longer want to be under you. You feel you have failed as a DOM. You have failed to fulfill the needs of you Sub. You have failed as an effective DOM.
The gut wrenching pain you feel as you Sub is torn away from you is overwhelming.
As a responsible Dom you have no choice but to release you Sub to be free to find the fulfillment that you have failed to give them.
Perhaps this is just my experience, my level of commitment my passion. Perhaps it's just that the special Sub I once had was just that, so special.