He is Rewriting 25 Years of "No"

Because you left without a goodbye and "didn't pick up" his signals, his brain spent a quarter-century wired to believe he was rejected.

• The Cognitive Lag: Even though you are being kind now, his subconscious is still waiting for the "other shoe to drop."

• The "Punishment" Phase: His hot-and-cold behavior isn't necessarily malicious; it's a defense mechanism. He is making you "wait" for him as a subconscious way to see if you will stay, or if you will "abruptly depart" again when he goes quiet.