Silence is not always indifference
Some people regulate by reducing stimulation, stepping back, or being quiet for a while. Without that context, silence gets misread faster than it should.
What space-seeking people often need is not more checking in
What helps more is usually a clear agreement: how long they need, how they will signal they are okay, and what kind of contact still feels close without feeling intrusive.
Closeness improves when boundaries are spoken clearly
Relationships breathe better when one person can ask for space without guilt and the other can ask for reassurance without feeling dramatic.