There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with needing space and saying that. NOTHING wrong with that. It's not your job to protect him from himself. It's your job to look after you and your feelings and that may mean you have to be assertive with him like you were with IC. Calm, mature, straight forward but direct.
Space is a good thing. You DO deserve that. On YOUR terms. Work out the language with us if you want. We're here to help.
You NEED it clearly and you deserve it.
It's not a matter of being a good DBer or not. It's about doing what is best for Maybell at this time. Only YOU know what that is and only YOU can carry it out. You have been ramping up to this for a while.
Work out what you want to say, how you want to say it, what you really want to convey. Write it here.
We'll help. That's why we're here.
Sending you ((hugs)).
It's ok to ask for what you need. It's really ok. It's your job.
