Caucasian

I sent this message to him:

I’m saying this calmly.
I believe it’s best we gently step away from each other.
Working through this relationship alone and trying to fix things by myself has taken a toll on me.
Hearing myself viewed as someone “where nothing else is more important to me besides complaining,” and having gratitude met with “did that even require a reply,” was the breaking point.
I cannot live under that lens. I’m burned out and no longer have it in me to try anymore.
This does not require a reply. Take care.
(This has nothing to do with you being busy and not replying. I’m just done.)

His reply was:

Wow, ok. This is the impatience I’ve been talking about. If you’re trying to reach someone and that person isn’t available to respond on your timeline, then that’s an issue with you. Did it even occur to you to wonder why?
You know what, no need to respond either. Just as you’re done, I’m done also.
Sorry for any pain I caused you.

Is this a baited statement?

Short answer?

Yes. This is bait.

But not the kind you’re supposed to take.

Here’s what actually happened.

You sent a calm, clear, emotionally responsible breakup message. You didn’t attack him. You didn’t insult him. You didn’t beg. You explained your boundary and walked away.

That alone already put him on the defensive.

His response does three very specific things:

1. He reframes the issue as a character flaw in you.
   Instead of acknowledging how his words affected you, he labels you as “impatient.” That’s classic deflection. It shifts the focus away from his behavior and puts you on trial instead.
2. He invalidates your experience.
   Rather than responding to the actual pain you described, he turns it into a lecture about your expectations and timing. That’s not accountability — that’s avoidance.
3. He mirrors your “no reply needed” line to regain control.
   When someone says “no need to respond either” after you already closed the door, they’re not agreeing — they’re trying to feel like they ended it too. It’s ego, not closure.

The “sorry for any pain I caused you” at the end?

That’s not a real apology.
That’s a soft exit wrapped in just enough politeness to look mature without actually owning anything.

Now here’s the most important part:

This message is bait only if you respond.

He’s hoping you’ll:

• defend yourself

• explain more

• clarify

• re-open the conversation

• prove you’re not “impatient”

If you do that, you undo the strongest thing you already did — walking away calmly.

You weren’t impatient.
You were exhausted.
You weren’t demanding.
You were done carrying the emotional load alone.

And his response confirmed exactly why.

So no — don’t reply.
Don’t clarify.
Don’t correct him.

Let his last message sit exactly where it belongs:
as proof that you made the right decision.