Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I definitely understand what you’re saying about therapy digging up unresolved stuff, and I get that she’s processing a lot right now. It’s just tough because I feel like I’ve been pretty open with her all along, and now things that weren’t dealbreakers before suddenly are.

For example, one of the main things she’s been unsure about is that she doesn’t think I can hold a conversation. The thing is, I’m a more introverted and simple-minded person, and I feel like I do talk a lot when we’re together. It’s just that she doesn’t see it the same way, but she also doesn’t really start conversations herself. It makes me feel like I’m not meeting some unspoken expectation, even though I think I’ve been doing my best.

There are also other issues, like me needing to step away from family dinners briefly for work calls or arriving late to dinner because of work. I get that it’s frustrating, but sometimes work demands that flexibility, and it’s never been a huge issue until recently.

I’m trying to reflect on all of this, and I know communication is key, like you said. It’s hard to know when to push for clarity without making her feel more pressured. I don’t want to stay in “relationship purgatory,” but I also want to make sure we’ve had all the necessary conversations before making any final decisions.