My boyfriend and I have been bickering a lot. We both have stress from other parts of life, but I have been very irritable and he has too. Last night, I told him that he doesn't do a good job communicating or even making his thoughts known, thereby leaving me somewhat in the dark. This happened when he invited me over for dinner the other night, but didn't specify a time. I waited until 9:00 pm and had to text him myself, he texted me an hour later saying he had been doing something and was sorry he hadn't gotten back. When I addressed the "communication" issue to him in person, his response was "I need space sometimes. I'd rather not talk all day but it means more if it's like once at the end of the day". The words "I need space" THREW me into a panic. I immediately paired it with me being too clingy and started to get so upset inside. For the record, I NEVER contact him, because i am super conscious of my fear of being seen as needy (my biggest fear). When he said this I was floored. Especially in the past two weeks, he's been the one to contact me all the time and ask what I was doing.... I don't understand where he got this from. Me following up on our dinner plans was too needy? It just struck such a bad chord inside of me, and that set the precedent for the rest of our "bad night". Things were weird. I felt like I was walking on eggshells around him, and as I was getting ready for bed, he kept complaining about how he needed sleep and me having the light on bothered him (as I was getting ready myself). I fell asleep thinking this was it. We were going to break up. Before bed, I said to him "I'm busy all week... so I don't have any time" and he said "Well I'll just hang with my friends". This bothered me that I said that- I am kicking myself now, because I feel like I automatically ruined any chances I have of seeing him after this horrible night. This morning, on the way home, I texted him and apologized and told him it was all a ton of work stress, and I didn't want it to interfere with our relationship. He responded by saying it was just a rocky time and not a big deal, that we both have stress that we take out on each other at the end of the night, and that if I needed any help this week to let him know. Still, I am so conscious of the whole "space" comment... and the general impression I left on him. I feel bewildered and lost, and feel as though I've pushed him away in one way or another. I want to kick myself for saying I was busy all week... which isn't entirely true... because when he doesn't call on Friday night I will be encompassed with anxiety and depression. Am I blowing this argument up? Does "I need space SOMETIMES" really mean the horrible "I need space. period.?" I don't know how to react. I am so happy with him and this completely and totally upset me to the point that I just want to lay in bed.