The Silence Between Us.
Silence in family relationships is complicated.
Sometimes silence is protection, a boundary that keeps you safe from harm. Sometimes silence is grief, the ache of wanting connection but knowing it comes at too high a cost. And sometimes silence is both at once.
I’ve lived in the tension of silence. It feels heavy, like a room filled with words that will never be spoken. It feels lonely, even when it’s necessary.
What I’ve learned is that silence doesn’t erase love. It reshapes it. It says, “I care enough about myself to step back.” It says, “I want us to last, but not like this.”
If you’re navigating silence with family, know this: you’re not alone. Silence can be both painful and protective. And choosing it doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it means you’ve chosen to honor your own voice when theirs couldn’t.
