Signs he's slow fading after you met in person

Watch for gaps growing between his messages. If he used to reply within an hour and now takes 8-12 hours, that's a shift. His replies also get shorter and less detailed. He stops asking questions back. One-word answers or "haha" with nothing added become the norm. He may still text back eventually, but the texture changes.

Another sign is that he stops initiating. After you meet, if he was into it, he'd text first sometimes. Once he stops being the one to start conversations, he's managing you down. The last pattern is vagueness about plans. Instead of saying yes or no to a specific time, he says "maybe later" or "I'll let you know."

You need a message that's specific enough to require a real answer, not a maybe. Suggest an actual day and time for something simple. Make it low pressure so there's no reason to deflect if he's actually interested. The move is to test whether he'll commit or not. A yes means something is still alive. A no or a noncommittal reply tells you he's checked out.

Don't mention his slower responses or ask him why he's being distant. Just put a clear plan in front of him. If he dodges it or ghosts it entirely, you have your answer and you can stop waiting.

Send your message and give it five to seven days. If he doesn't reply or gives you a "maybe" without committing to anything, you're done. Don't send a follow-up. Silence after a clear ask is his answer. If he does reply with a yes and then cancels later, that's one more data point that tells you this isn't moving forward.

The hard part is not reaching out again while you wait. Don't send anything else during those five to seven days. Waiting longer than a week is a waste of time. You already know what slow fading looks like at that point.