Lisa O
You can feel small around someone who never says a harsh word. They use looks and gestures instead. The silent signals land harder than insults because you can’t call them out directly. There’s no recording of what happened and no proof to show anyone later. These quiet manipulations leave you doubting yourself and questioning your own perception while they walk away clean.
They Roll Their Eyes at You
You’re explaining something, and their eyes do that slow roll upward. The message comes through loud and clear without a single word spoken. Your confidence drops instantly. The rest of your explanation feels pointless now, but you finish it anyway because stopping seems worse. There’s a coffee cup between you on the table, and you focus on that instead of their face.
Heavy Sighs Fill the Space
That long breath out through the nose says everything. You’re talking about something important, and they exhale like you’re the biggest burden in their life. It’s noticeable enough to sting but vague enough that confronting it seems petty. You trail off mid-sentence. The kitchen clock on the wall ticks louder than your voice. They never called you annoying, but the message arrived anyway.
They Walk Away While You’re Speaking
You’re in the middle of a sentence, and they just leave the room. No pause or explanation given. They grab their keys from the counter and head out the door. You’re left standing there talking to nobody. It’s a specific type of dismissal that makes you feel invisible. The door clicks shut behind them, and your unfinished thought hangs in the empty air.
Their Body Turns Away From You
Notice how someone positions themselves when you enter a room. Some people turn their shoulders away or angle their chair differently. It’s a subtle shift, but it creates an invisible wall. You came in ready to share something, and now you’re reconsidering whether it’s worth it. A lamp in the corner casts shadows that make the distance between you feel even wider.
They Choose Their Phone Over You
You want to discuss something real, and their eyes keep dropping to the screen. They give you an occasional nod, but nothing registers behind it. The blue glow lights up their face while you’re talking to basically no one. You stop and wait for a response that never comes—the TV murmurs in the background. You might as well be having this conversation alone.
They Laugh When You’re Being Serious
You’re trying to share something personal. They laugh at you. It’s not nervous laughter. This is the kind that dismisses everything you just said. Something real to you became their joke. You go back through your words, wondering what you said wrong. Did you say it badly? Are you making too much of it? The sound of that laugh sticks around for hours.
They Stand Too Close on Purpose
Personal space isn’t accidental, and some people are aware of their actions. During a tense conversation, they deliberately move into your space. You end up backed against the counter with nowhere to go. It changes everything because now you’re focused on how uncomfortable you feel, rather than the actual issue at hand. Their jacket has that stale cigarette smell, and it’s all you can concentrate on anymore.
Your Things End Up Elsewhere
Your keys were on the hook. Now they’re on the table. The book you left on your nightstand has disappeared. You ask about it. They tell you you’re imagining things. Your memory must be going. After enough of this, you stop trusting where you think you put things. A plant by the window moves constantly. You no longer bring it up because it never leads anywhere good.
Their Face Contradicts Their Words
They say everything’s fine. Their face tells a different story, though. The words sound calm, but their jaw is clenched tight. Their eyebrows scrunch together in that tense way. You can see frustration all over their face as they claim nothing’s wrong. But what’s the truth? You wish they’d just be honest instead of playing these games.
They Stop Talking to You Completely
They stop responding to you. They heard what you said. They’re just choosing to ignore it. You ask them something directly. They stare blankly or look right past you. The silence gets heavier. You can’t take it, so you start talking to fill the space. That’s exactly what they wanted—the refrigerator hums in the background. Nothing else makes a sound.
They Make You Wait Every Single Time
Your texts sit unanswered for hours. They show up late to plans. No apology ever comes with it. This happens too often to be accidental. Pointing it out makes you seem petty, though. Your schedule revolves around theirs. They never do the same for you. The clock on the wall reads forty-five minutes past your meeting time. You’re still finding reasons why it’s okay.
They Copy Your Movements to Mock You
Someone mirrors your gestures, but not in a friendly way. You cross your arms, and they do it too with a slight smirk. It appears to be normal mirroring to anyone watching, but you know the difference. Every movement you make suddenly feels self-conscious and calculated. You set your coffee cup down carefully and notice them watching you do it with that same smirk still there.
You Get Positioned Outside the Group
In group settings, they arrange the space so you’re physically separated. Everyone else sits close together, and you get the chair that’s slightly too far away. Or they form a tight circle that doesn’t leave room for you to join naturally. Nobody said you weren’t welcome, but the message lands clearly anyway. Cold air from the window behind you makes the distance feel even more obvious.
They Undo Everything You Organize
You straighten the couch cushions, and they immediately shift them back. Something you organized gets rearranged the moment you leave. It’s not about the actual objects but about showing you that your preferences don’t count. Every small effort you make gets erased or undone. The kitchen towel you just folded sits crumpled on the counter before you’ve even walked away from it.
Their Facial Expressions Go Overboard
You say something normal. They give you this massive reaction. Their eyes go wide. Their mouth drops open. The whole thing is a performance. You start replaying what you said, trying to figure out what was so wrong with it. They don’t need to say anything because their face told everyone else you’re being absurd. The afternoon sun comes through the window. It lights up their dramatic expression.