A Night Off for Me Meant Too Much for Him

I’ve been with Mike for almost two years now. We have a good relationship, but lately I feel like we’re just going through the motions of things and not really connecting emotionally or sexually anymore. Last week, he asked me to stay late at work so that he could surprise me with tickets to an event downtown after my shift ended. The thing is, work was pretty hectic, and when it got to be closing time, I told Mike honestly that I needed a night off for myself, to take care of some personal stuff at home before hitting the hay early. He seemed disappointed but understood, saying he’d get tickets for another night instead. What I didn’t tell him was that as soon as my shift ended and I got back home, there was this feeling inside me telling me that I needed a break from everything. I showered and then sat on the couch watching old movies while eating ice cream, it felt like something Mike wouldn't understand since he's always so energetic and driven. By midnight, I had made my way through two tubs of mint chocolate chip and decided to go to bed early as I originally planned. The next day at work, Mike was unusually quiet when we met up for lunch. He said that everything was okay but that he felt like our connection wasn’t what it used to be. Afterward, one thing led to another, there’s no way I can explain the exact sequence of events without feeling ashamed, but let's just say things escalated and took a turn when I returned home late at night. What happened with Mike in my bedroom isn't something I want to describe in detail because it’s complicated by our emotions at that moment. Now we’re both walking on eggshells around each other. We know we love one another, but the incident has put an awkward strain between us. I don’t blame him for feeling let down after all he planned for me and how much effort he puts into our relationship. The whole thing made me wonder if my boundaries need to be clearer or if it’s a sign that we both just need some space.