How to ask your ex where you stand without scaring them off?

Tskfa
My ex and I have a complicated past where we were together 8 years ago had a child together did go our seprate ways for him to come back into our lives and were together for the last 2 years however 6 weeks ago he ended our relationship saying he can't commit to anything and I deserve someone who can commit to me etc.
However I do not believe his excuse as it come from no where and he is under a lot of stress showing signs of depression, even saying he doesn't even want to live, doesn't want to commit to work and has legal issues he is having to deal with as well, so I feel he just didn't want to be a burden anymore on me, I would never think he was a burden but that's his mindset.
Since he broke up with me he has contacted me weekly even doubling up on messages, he started of with asking how I am etc, then asked if I am seeing someone to wanting to see me.
When I saw him the chemistry was very much still there and we did hook up, after that I didn't hear from him for a week, he then contacted me apologised saying his brother has been diagnosis with Cancer and we spoke for ages, he said he missed our adventures and how he would never find someone like me, he told me that he want to have more adventures with me etc.
We met up again and have once again hooked up and yet again I have not heard from him for 4 days now.
I am starting to wonder where I stand as one minuet he his acting like we are together the next he disappears. I am aware of everything he has to deal with to the point I know he is not eating or sleeping so I don't want to stress him out more, but how do I go about asking him where exactly do we stand?
I do love him and do want to be with him but I hate feeling as thou I am a yoyo.
If he is still opening up to me about his life, his stresses, his mind frame, complimenting me and saying he misses our adventures and wants to make more in the future, he still hooks up with me and afterwards he goes quite again for a few days do I give him space?
How to ask your ex where you stand without scaring them off?
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