I have to agree w/Sotto. He wants to make sure that you do not move from the spot where he left you. He wants reassurances from you that you are not going to stray and leave him w/the short end of the stick, i.e., Plan B, if things don't work out in his fantasy life.
When he has those self pity parties, don't tell him that you love him. That gives him the green light to continue on as he has been and knows that you are still there waiting on him. Instead, when he asks what you could want w/a short chubby, depressed selfish guy like him...tell him you have to think about that for a while and will get back to him. That will get him thinking as to what you mean. It's not being cruel to say this because you've already validated this question many times over.
Try to keep the conversations to mundane things, like the dog, children, finances, etc. He's a confused puppy and most likely would love to have a piece of cake, i.e., kibbles to keep him going along the way. Take the cake and kibbles away and see how he reacts/responds when he discovers that you aren't where he left you.
Just my two cents.
Sit quietly, the answers will reveal themselves when you least expect them to. The past is gone, the present is a gift and you need to focus on today, allow the future to reveal itself when it is ready.
