Long distance gets longer in COVID

Dear Amy: My guy and I live in different countries. We have only seen each other one time since COVID hit.

We used to see each other one or two times a month. It has been four months since we’ve gotten together.

We talk three times a day, and text a bit during the week, but then weekends come, and he goes quiet all day.

I get this gut feeling that he is pulling away. He won’t reply to texts for hours.

Our phone calls are sometimes limited to a minute or two.

He won’t comment on my Facebook posts. He used to leave cute little comments. Should I continue to try? We used to be such a strong couple.

We have been together for five years. I want to respect his space when he gets quiet, but I’m not sure what he needs anymore.

When will I know for sure to end it? — Lost in Love

Dear Lost: The wonderful thing about being in a longdistance relationship is how the anticipation and rhythm of meetings fuels the romance. You are either planning to meet, or parting with sweet sorrow.

Everything else about a long-distance relationship is the worst, and trying to maintain a long-distance relationship during a global pandemic is the worst-worst, mainly because you are being denied not only the ability to see one another, but — because of the uncertain nature of everything right now — you can’t even plan for the future. Add to this the stress of job and health insecurity and other family pressures, and you have a multitude of large and small strains on your relationship.

The only answer here is to talk about it. Does he want to emotionally distance himself until there is more clarity about the possibility of seeing one another again?