Can you appear to be fine while isolating?

[Bananamango]

This is a good thing to tell him the next time he asks. It sets a good (safe) picture of what you expect...

Just in case you're interested...I got the chance to tell him this a few weeks ago. He did come back, there had been a bit of a misunderstanding and he thanked me afterward for stubbornly not letting him walk away without talking about it one night when I ran into him. (He generally avoids ALL conflict.) After that talk, he sent me a really nice email. I sent one back in which I was able to tell him I simply like him as a person (and that I'm not there to 'support' him) and got into some specifics about all of the things I like about him I'd never told him before; a decently long list. It seems to have made a huge difference. He's really been trying, has been friendly and helpful, gave me a little gift from a trip he was just on--and we seem to be past things...for now anyway! Thanks again for the help everyone who gave their two cents.