Cancer man leaves me on read and disappears

I'm a Pisces sun Aqua moon and my cancer and I have been flirting for the last 8 months. I'm 24 and he's 31. He's been through a lot this year so I've been sensitive about his space for the most part, but neither of us has came out and said "hey I like you." I think we are both terrified of rejection. I know that is definitely the case for me. We started out as friends and grew close after his gf cheated on him after 7 years. He was totally crushed by this. I was really supportive and there for him through it all.

He's made little hints like sending me songs about being interested or liking someone. I sent him a song too. We send heart emojis back and forth (cheesy I know lol).

Anyways we have been frequently in contact up until the saturday after thanksgiving. He started texting less/responding to my texts. So I asked him if I did something to upset him. He assured me that I didn't and that I could never make him mad. He said frequently "absolutely not."

I believe him and we were fine, but he sent me a heart, I sent one back and he left me on read. It has been 5 days since I last talked to him. I'm just assuming he needed space. This has been the worst year of his life with his grandpa passing away before thanksgiving. So I am worried and want to check up on him, but Idk if he wants to talk to me.

Idk if he is bored of me or if he was expecting me to make a move and I didn't. Maybe he's hurt that I didn't? I also left him on read a few times cause I have been super busy with finals. I always remembered to respond to him eventually though. I notice that whatever I do that may potentially bug him, like stopping convo cause I'm about to pass out, he literally mimics the same behavior lol like "how do you like it!?

He hasn't just stopped texting me. He has also been inactive on social media, which he typically uses often. Maybe he's baiting me cause what he was doing before isn't working? I'm also worried he met someone else..

Should I just give him space and wait for him to come back to me? Or should I check on him? 5 days is a long time to me, considering how often we spoke before. Thank you!

Well it's been 2 weeks since I wrote this post and we have been talking again. It turns out he didn't get my last message and was wondering why he didn't. So it was all just an accident I guess. But he is still not responding as much, especially towards the end of the day. Which just makes me think that he's with another girl. I also noticed that his relationship status on facebook is private.

You're right. I think I'm giving my heart too easily and I need to hold back if he wants to act this way. Not as punishment or anything, but it's not fair to just drag me along like this if he isn't serious about me and seeing other women. I mean it would really hurt me since it has been 8 months. That's a long time to make someone believe there are feelings there.

I took a step forward and told him that I missed him last week and he just said "aww we should hang out sometime." But he didn't say it back..which may not mean anything, but idk..

I guess I just feel if he really liked me and wanted me he would be all over me. I'm not getting that vibe. Sometimes I do, but he's hot and cold.

I'm thinking about just asking him straight up if he's seeing someone..

I am a Pisces sun with a sag moon and Virgo rising. And I have dealt with cancers, I just deleted and blocked one unstable cancer from my life. They are really good at playing the victim very well. It could be that he is talking to other women if he less responsive. Just stand your ground with him, do not give anything. Yeah I think you are giving your heart easily with this guy. You would think older men would act mature, nope. Hold back with him and I am sure they are great guys out there. One thing cancer men dislike is when you move on from them. I know you have feelings for him but if he is being distant. Do your self a favor and do not speak to him a lot. Do not even text him anymore, see if he texts back. If he doesn't you know where you stand. Cancers are always moody, I personally think they are toxic for pisces nature since we are always changeable and we are such a nice sign that they tend to take advantage. I would know since some of the men I liked were cancer. And since this guy has a rough past(especially with a gf cheating) I say give him space. Also, take the space for yourself.

The cancer guy I was talking to did something hurtful to me. That I had to cut his ass out of my life. And honestly, I knew it wouldn't work out well for me to get involved with this guy. They live too much in their past. Everyone is different, a sign doesn't tell you a lot about a person just about their personality. This guy talked so much shit about me that eventually one of my friends showed me the kind of things he was saying that I talked to him and told him I can't ever be his friend. I am 26, so I have no time for anyone with instability unless I really like them and I'll help them get through. I am also in graduate school and I hope I find someone. In your situation, I would give this guy time and friendzone him. You should probably move on from him. And hopefully you will find someone who can admit how he feels about you, and will show you. You deserve that.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and providing some advice. I guess it doesn't really matter anymore though...

I wanted to know instead of going into the new year feeling the way that I did, so yesterday I decided to ask him if he had feelings for me. He said "as a friend, yes. I wouldn't want to ruin our friendship blah blah...I think you're a great person blah blah..I'm not into dating right now and I need to get my life together...etc. We all know how that goes.

I wasn't entirely shocked by his response cause I obviously I had a hard time reading him, but I am totally confused and it all hurts. I thought if anything he would just say that he doesn't want to date. That would have made sense to me, given his crap year. However, he said that he sees me as a friend. I'm confused because friends don't act the way he has towards me in the past year. He was very flirty, but he's left me feeling incredibly stupid and humiliated by all of this. I'm confused..how else was I supposed to perceive his behavior—?? It was not "friendly." He apologized for sending me mixed signals and mid way through crying I texted him that it was "ok." It all just doesn't make sense to me.

I just feel like swimming far away and hiding under a rock. He keeps asking me how I am doing and idk what to say to him. I don't want to talk to him right now 😢. I'm going to just avoid him for a while cause I need time to get over this. I deleted social media so I don't see his posts. Knowing him, he will try to get my attention through that.

There were other guys who wanted to date me and I declined every time they asked me out because I thought the person I had in my life was special and worth the wait. Turns out he never liked me like that. I hate being disappointed. I hate being wrong about a person and sometimes I hate being right..

I think as Pisces we are naturally affectionate people and I feel like he took advantage of that. I was just a source of affection and attention when he needed it. Just a way to pass the time I guess.

This sucks 😢

I appreciate all the advice guys!

I wasn't trying to get a cancer to text me back. I was confused by his behavior and that's what this thread was about.