You wanted a grown-up to act like a grown-up. That is a valid expectation for grown-ups to have.

I basically laid down the law this morning, and said he needs to pay all of rent on the first of the month from now on, and pay me what he owes me, or we need to call it quits. He decided on the "call it quits" option. Apparently this has not been a good morning for him financially. And I apologized for piling on the bad news, but I also told him that I couldn't wait any longer to say what I had to say.

Sean, you are not an asshole. I hope you are able to at least get something from him before he goes.

I feel like I have been running around all day and accomplished nothing. I went to the mall but only found a couple of gifts, made a quick trip to the market but only bought the absolute essentials because I was running late for volunteering at the library. Finally made it to the library, but I was feeling sore by then and don't feel like I did much.

It's rough that your roommate's going through a bad time, but that doesn't obligate you to carry him financially, especially when you're also going through a bad time.

You wanted a grown-up to act like a grown-up. That is a valid expectation for grown-ups to have.

This.

It's rough that your roommate's going through a bad time, but that doesn't obligate you to carry him financially, especially when you're also going through a bad time.

Very much so. I haven't lived rent-free (not even with my mother) since I was 18. It's not out of line for you to expect him to live up to agreed-upon obligations, and it is COMPLETELY out of line for him to be so in-arrears to you. Sure 26 is young-ish, but it's still adult. He should act like it.

I hope he understands that simply moving out doesn't mean he doesn't owe you money anymore. Ugh.

Sean,

small claims?

I hope he understands that simply moving out doesn't mean he doesn't owe you money anymore. Ugh.

I remember being 26. It wouldn't surprise me. When I told him how it needed to be in order for this to keep working out, he seemed confused that he still owed me so much. I brought out the piece of paper I'd been tracking everything on and showed it to him. He disappeared into his room for a while and came back saying, "Yeah, you're right. I guess you've got to carry that one..."

I did not say, "No fucking kidding I'm right. I'm very fucking aware of the fact that I'm right. Thank you for confirming the rightness of my being right."

small claims?

I'm hoping it doesn't have to come to that. While this has probably ended what passed for a friendship between us, I don't feel the need to press the issue just yet.

Knowing that he's leaving, I might be able to get some personal leniency from my landlord. He's aware who the problem child in the relationship is, and flat out said to me yesterday that I should kick the guy out and find somebody who can afford to pay.