He's not a mind reader and, let's face it, he is a man after all. Most of them aren't too in tune to feelings or emotion of any kind. He's especially out of touch with emotion since he was abused as a child. He shuts down faster than I do.
We've been taught only wimps show and acknowledge feeling. Women discuss their feelings frequently, men do not. So, when it's time for the "feeling" talk men are at a distinct disadvantage and will tend to avoid. In military terms, you do not engage the enemy at their strongest point! Now, you say he shuts down faster than you do (because he was abused) so, in order to know that you must have attempted at one time to engage him in some kind of emotional dialogue. Is that so, or are you just rationalizing why you won't say what you need? Hey, it's scary to ask for something cuz you might not get it. Yet, you can't live your life based on fear. You don't have to be fearless, just try to fear less.
