How to respond when they seem interested then disappear

One week is long enough that they lost momentum, but short enough that they might still reply. They probably got distracted by someone else, they're unsure if they like you enough to invest time, or they were testing whether you'd message first. That last part matters. Some people use silence as a filter. If you don't reach out, they assume you weren't that interested.

The silence is not a yes or a no. It's a stall. That means your reply gets a real chance to restart things, but only if you don't sound wounded or desperate. They need to remember why they were interested in the first place.

Your reply needs to do two jobs. First, make it easy for them to respond by asking something or saying something that naturally invites a reply. A simple question works. Second, imply you didn't spend the week waiting for them by referencing something external or just sounding calm and present.

Don't mention the silence, don't ask where they went, and don't apologize. Instead, reset the conversation as if a week didn't happen, but do it in a way that feels fresh, not forced. A light comment about what's going on with you, plus a real question about them, gives them a soft landing to step back in. This moves past the gap without making it weird.

Send your reply and give them three days. If they don't respond within that window, send one more message only if there's a real reason to, like they posted a story or you have something actually new to say. Don't send another 'checking in' message. One follow-up is enough. After that, assume they're not interested right now and stop initiating.

If they do reply after three days or after your follow-up, treat it like the first message. Don't mention the delay. Just engage with what they said and start building momentum again. If it happens twice, the pattern tells you they're not someone who prioritizes communication, and you can decide if that works for you.