King's definition of a break sounds like a healthy step in this relationship, considering the circumstances. BMD needs time to dedicate to her studies, and having some time for that is a rational request.
It seems that it's not that the relationship is unhealthy, but she can't dedicate enough time to it that it might cause problems. Just keep in touch with her, she's worth keeping around
ps: my own little story about "breaks" that illustrates the importance of the understanding of the word. one of my first girlfriends calls me up a week after she tells me she loves me and says "I think we need a break." I knew she was a fanatic friends fan, and I'm familiar with the show's retarded dramas. this meant she wanted to sleep with someone else guilt-free. I told her that if she wants to break up with me she should just do so and stop playing games, so that's what she did. Wow that was more long-winded than I intended.