"I don't think you do," he admits, "but I meant it more like 'I'm not going to press if that's the case, and it doesn't mean I'm going to give up and walk away' either."

He sighs himself.

"I don't like doing it either. But I don't really see an alternative. Do you see one?" He will let the 'we never talk and you just eventually disappear after languishing here for years' obvious addendum be obvious but silent.