Your silence scares them You think you're avoiding a fight. But your partner doesn't see it that way. When you go quiet without warning? Their nervous system fills in the blanks. And the blank is always abandonment. They're not thinking he needs a minute. They're thinking he's leaving. Shutting down doesn't make you a bad partner. Sometimes space is the mature thing. Especially when emotions run high. But here's the difference between maturity and avoidance. Do you come back? Say this instead. I