If you find that your partner has been keeping away, try not to get paranoid and jump to the worst of conclusions.
There could be any number of reasons why your partner has been MIA.
It might for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with your relationship.
So before you jump the gun and decide that your partner must be cheating on you: pause, take a deep breath, and consider the other possibilities for their absence.
There might be personal issues - issues that have nothing to do with you - behind your partner's mysterious absence.
A problem with family or at work could be to blame.
Maybe your partner is embarrassed to tell you about these things or maybe they just figured it wasn't your concern, who knows.
If you suspect this is the case, talk to your partner - let them know you are there to support them through any difficult time.
Then again, maybe it's you who is responsible for your partner's never being around.
Was there a fight recently that hasn't been resolved? Have you been nagging? Have you been distracted by work and been less attentive than usual? Take a second to sit down and think about how your relationship has changed - and why - and you might be able to pinpoint the real problem.
Worst case scenario is, yes, your partner has found somebody else they'd rather spend their time with than you.
If you really suspect that something is up, you can be mature and ask your partner about the reason for their lack of presence.
For those who aren't interested in maturity, there is the sneaky (some might say "dishonest") route of checking your partner's email or cell phone records.
Of course, if you find out that your suspicions were totally off base, you'll feel awful.
And if you discover that you were right on the money - you'll feel even worse.
In the end, simply asking your partner about their reasons for their absence is the smartest option.
If they are struggling with some kind of personal problem, be it work or family, they should appreciate your concern and the opportunity to open up.
If it's a problem with you or your relationship - or if there's someone new - it's something that should be brought into the open.
Otherwise, how are you going to fix it? And then, there's always the best-case scenario: Your partner is planning some massive fantastic surprise for you that takes a lot of planning.
Who knows? Stop worrying about your partner's MIA-status (it's going to give you wrinkles!), and the next time you have a quiet moment - just talk to them about it.
It's better than not knowing and sitting around stressing constantly.