Before You Assume, Try Understanding

 

Maybe it isn’t rejection.
Maybe it’s survival.

We live in a world that takes silence personally and absence as an insult. If someone doesn’t respond fast enough, smile big enough, or show up the way we expect, we’re quick to fill in the blanks — usually with stories that protect our ego but abandon empathy.

But what if she isn’t pulling away?
What if she’s just trying to stay afloat?

Maybe she hasn’t called back because depression makes simple tasks feel heavy.
Maybe she hasn’t replied because anxiety turns everyday decisions into mental marathons.
Maybe she didn’t wave because her mind was busy fighting battles you’ll never see.

Not everyone who goes quiet is walking away. Some people are just conserving the little energy they have left.

And here’s the part we don’t talk about enough:
Strong people still struggle.
Reliable people still break down.
The ones who always show up for others often disappear briefly just to catch their breath.

So before you assume you’ve been phased out, ask yourself if you’ve made space for understanding. Before you label someone “distant,” consider whether life has simply been loud for them lately.

That doesn’t mean ignoring your own needs. Compassion doesn’t require self-abandonment. But it does ask for patience — especially with people who’ve shown you care in ways that weren’t always loud.

Sometimes the bravest thing someone can do is keep going one day at a time. And sometimes the kindest thing you can do is keep reaching out — not with pressure, but with presence.

A simple “thinking of you” can feel like a lifeline.
A little grace can mean more than you realize.

So maybe it’s too soon to give up.
Maybe it’s okay to check in again.
Maybe what she needs right now isn’t distance — it’s understanding.

And if you’ve ever been the one holding it all together quietly, you already know:
Not every silence is a goodbye.
Some are just pauses while someone gathers the strength to keep going.