He's a social work student. Yes, he does have stuff going on his life. Yes, there are patterns to his behaviour. It's not out of the norm, according to his best friend, for him to spend a lot of time by himself. I like time by myself, too.

No, we're not a married couple, or a couple in any romantic sense. However, we used to prepare meals together, go see a movie, or watch tv together. I agreed to the roommate thing because I wanted someone to share things with. So did he. He's stopped sharing now.

He's not just a roommate. He is a friend. The money is nice but it's not a necessity. It's not your typical roommate arrangement but that obviously didn't come across. His moodiness affects me. I want at least a pleasant atmosphere, not one fraught with the undercurrents of anxiety.

I am not going to make demands on how he acts. That's ludicrous. I want to have an adult conversation with him but he shuts down. That's why I thought the letter was a good idea.

The only reason I have a roommate is because it is him. I'm not going to replace him if or when he leaves. It's a one-off situation.