How do I tell my friends I think they should break up?

*without sounding like an insufferable a-hole?

Before they began dating, I was close friends with both X (she’s practically my older sister) and V (my older brother’s friend and now mine.) They met during my senior year of high school and have been dating since I graduated. Over the past few years, they have had several rough patches (involving both minor and major issues) but have worked through them to maintain what has been a healthy and stable relationship.

Until V said that he wanted to take a break and date other people, but still loves X and wants her to wait for him (what the hell? is this normal?)

They have put off dealing with the situation because they both still care about one another. But I think the main reason they don’t want to make a decision is neither wants to be in a messy relationship. They want to pretend that their issues will resolve themselves over time. They don’t want to let go of their romantic daydreams of getting married and spending their lives together.

Neither has asked my opinion yet. I’m grateful for it. I hate getting involved in this sort of thing. But I can’t listen to X cry herself to sleep. If she tearfully asks me, “What should I do?” I don’t know how to tell her.

Have you ever been in a situation like this, Fluther? How did you handle it? Should I stay out of things (as I have been thus far) unless directly asked?

(I’ve convinced myself I’m going to lose one of them if they break up. I haven’t fully come to terms with this prospect. They’re both like family.)