My boyfriend of over a year recently and suddenly broke off our relationship that, at least I thought, was deepening and quite serious. When he indicated he was unhappy and rethinking our relationship because he felt I didn't recognize his non-verbal cues that he was sad, I admit that I was shocked because it seemed out of the blue and I felt it was a rather small thing to break up over. I fear that I may have triggered his childhood abandonment and abuse issues by getting angry with him which only drove him away further. He has now become quite cold and callous and is like a different person in our communication. I have apologized a number of times and told him I wanted to try to work things out. I am not sure how to show him that I really do want us to learn to communicate better and that I won't abandon him as so many others in his life has.

I'm looking for advice as to the best approach to let him know I am there for him and love him. Should I give him space or continue to reach out to him even if he doesn't respond? And also advice as to whether people with abandonment issues who shut out people who they feel hurt by ever soften and let the person back in again, or is that unlikely and I already lost my one chance with him?

From my perspective everything seemed to be going so well so it really came out of the blue for me. I'm just so confused.