gone and back again

First it was his body; he’d be gone every so often, spending the occasional night at his new girlfriend’s house.

Then it was his toiletries; they’d eventually disappear with him for weekends at a time.

Then it was his backpack; it’d be stuffed with week’s worth of clothes in the short time that he’d spend at the apartment packing before heading back out to his girlfriend’s.

Then it was his laptop – the most precious of his belongings; it’d be the strongest most compelling sign that he was relocating his command center, setting up his shop elsewhere.

Now it is his food. Last night while I was out this phantom roommate of mine came home and cleared out his food bin, which had been stuffed with enough fruits and veggies for at least a few days - they now lie in wait at another home.

Left of him at this apartment are his peripherals and incidentals.

He has made spending time with her a priority in his life because she makes him happy. When she leaves in April, just a month and a half away, my roommate’s ghostly existence will itself disappear and he, his toiletries, backpack, laptop and food, will materialize right before my very eyes ... but he'll be sad.