The ties that bind

[haphazard]

It does make sense a little. However I have picked him up on this before and he will insist there is nothing wrong and I'm imagining it. Then what do you know a day or two later there will be a big row, he will own up to what has been bugging him and the atmosphere will lift.

I know H knows he does it and I know he does it on purpose. A few years ago I was telling him about someone who'd handed in his notice at work and didn't really want to work the notice but just be paid off to the end of the month. He manipulated the situation by coming in every day and "killing the atmosphere" - this is something this guy told me. So I was telling H about it, I can't remember the exact conversation we had but basically he was happy to admit that he is the master at killing the atmospheres himself.

He walks into the house and he is cold and distant. I act like he is fine and come up and kiss him and smile warmly as if he were fine. The chill does not lift. I don't see how it can be just my conclusion that he is the one 'generating' the atmosphere.

Hi how was your day?
"Fine" (said in a voice indicating "not fine" but I don't care to go into it)

We're having meatballs for dinner, it'll be ready in 20 minutes
"none for me thank you"

"What do you fancy doing this evening?"
Look of disdain (as if I have a choice other than to get through yet more work on your behalf)
"I've got work to do"

And that will be the sum of our conversation for the evening.


..."wow, it feels 10 degrees chillier to me when we are in the same room together. Do you get that feeling at all?"


I could say that to him. I can imagine his reaction he would see it as a sarcastic/bitchy variation on "what's wrong" and he would most likely just say "not really" in icy tones.