What is the “mutual fizzle” exactly? Allow me to explain. The mutual fizzle is a form of rejection in its most subtle form, but I choose not to see it as rejection at all. Rather, I see it more as something that happens when two people are, simply put, just not that into each other… enough.
It happens to you all the time: when you switch schools, when you move cities, when you get a new job. You just lose touch with some people as you meet new ones, and eventually some of your relationships with people just fizzle out. No bad blood. Just fizzle. Every now and then, people might fizzle back into your life only to fizzle out again.
It also happens when two people go out, have a good time — great conversations even — and despite how much they enjoyed each other’s company, they just aren’t interested enough to call again. And for a few, by the time they finally summon the courage to call, it’s much too late.
Well, here’s the way I see it. If he doesn’t call, he’s not into me and if I don’t call either, than the feeling is mutual. No harm, no foul, no awkward conversation, just a mutual understanding.
But say a month goes by and you wonder to yourself, “Whatever happened to so-and-so? We had a good time, didn’t we?” All of a sudden, out of nowhere, you’re interested again as you wonder why the two of you never went out again if you had such a good time together.
So you change your mind and you call, even if it has been a month since you last heard from him, but your interest of choice doesn’t answer, nor does he make an effort to return your phone call. (BTW: A text message does not constitute as a return call).
Rather than get butt-hurt over this subtle form of rejection, you take a hint. After all, you would have called within a week had you been interested enough in the first place. Besides, enough time has probably passed that whatever chemistry there was has more than likely fizzled out by now anyway. So you’re over it.
And that’s what I like to call the “mutual fizzle”.
Author: Niki Payne
