Is this the end ?

[Livelifelaughter]

8 months dating. We are mid 50s. There's been a few wobbles in the relationship but we have compromised over those. We speak every night and see each once or twice a week and at the weekend for an evening, great sex, and ots of chatting.

We both had separate weekends away with friends last week and chatted each day and had a lovely evening as soon as I got home.

He didn't call me one evening because he got home late and tipsy and when I saw him yesterday he was aloof and looked sad, same this morning. He bluffed it off and said he didn't want to talk about it, and it wasn't just one thing.

I think he wants out of the relationship, I know he finds it difficult to commit but we aren't going to get married nor have plans to move it, that's not what either of us want. I just feel that 8 months in he is questioning things. I love him. But I am naturally anxious and this is making me feel even more so.

Any advice?

From what you have described I wouldn’t jump to that conclusion. Have you asked him? Are you seeing him this weekend?

Yes I am seeing him today and saw him yesterday. I think it's because he said a few weeks ago that he wasn't sure he could give me what I needed in a relationship, and we had a talk about that, it's different being older there's no set pattern of dating, moving in, marriage neither of us wants that.
Oddly I felt we had grown stronger...

This
He bluffed it off and said he didn't want to talk about it, and it wasn't just one thing.
and this
he said a few weeks ago that he wasn't sure he could give me what I needed in a relationship

makes it sound like he's leading up to ending it.

Either that or he's one of those guys who likes their partner to be insecure and falling over themselves to keep him. If it's the latter, dump him sooner than later as it's a headfuck.

Trust your gut OP. I know it's hard, but be prepared for the worst.

He's already told you he doesn't want commitment - and that is often a bad sign.

Take the power back. So not "Does he want me anymore?" But "Do I really want him?

You deserve more and you know it. Good luck.

Thank you! I am just such an anxious person. He is really attentive and caring and affectionate and always makes time for me but honestly yesterday and this morning it just felt as though he was walking under a black cloud. Just before Christmas he emotionally withdrew and I raised it with him and it turned out to be nothing to do with me at all

Honestly I really feel we have a connection, I don't tell him everything emotionally but I think that's healthy it's not about putting all my emotional needs on him.

Just before Christmas he emotionally withdrew and I raised it with him and it turned out to be nothing to do with me at all

Hot and cold behaviour is often the start of emotional abuse. I'd be wary.