As someone who values words and expression above all else,
The most horrifying and harmful thing I can experience is my loved one’s silence.
Silence was a weapon growing up.
Evenings were spent walking through mine fields of suspicious glances and accusatory assumptions.
The silent treatment the only way my parents could stand each other for years before they finally raised the white flag.
I knew that there were violent wars raging behind closed mouths.
I knew expressing my emotions was not allowed because they could not handle what resided within me.
I learned to avoid the fight.
As I grew I realized how little I expressed love to my partners.
How little I was able to ask for what I needed.
How little I could share without fear of the silence.  
You see, silence and rejection are one and the same to me.
I wear my heart on my sleeve and write all the deep things so that maybe even when my tongue wont participate I can still express what needs released.
So many times even my written words have been met with silence.
Every time it happens I can feel part of my heart scream and fall into it’s own silence.
I’ll get my voice back, though it hurts differently each time.
By now my heart may look like some frankenstein patchwork.
Needled together by sheer stubbornness and the love of a handful of equally traumatized people.
So please, even if you dont like what I have to say, dont remain silent.
Your voice needs an outlet too.
Say what you mean and mean what you say is a skill to develop.
It is worth it.
It takes time and bravery. And trusting the right people.
Or releasing the wrong people from your expectations.