Mystery Man, What should I do?

Instead of disappearing and going MIA as he has in the past. This time, he is staying in contact but I do not know what to do. I really need some advice here.

I've always said that MM has a dark side to him. He has disappeared before and to me it seems like the pressure of work (or pressure of something) really gets to him. Honestly, I think he does have some time of disorder. Manic Depressive, Depression, Anxiety. There is something there that he suffers from.

Now usually, instead of me seeing this, he retreats and disappears....reappearing when things are better with him. This time, he had promised me that he wouldn't disappear and he has been keeping his promise.

Yes, he has said that he is in a bad place. He appreciates me trying to make him smile with jokes and telling him I would be there for him. But he says he's in a bad place right now...he said how he hates this feeling. My heart ached. I felt so helpless.

He wrote me at the beginning of the week that while one head would love to spend time with me and misses me...the other head is really in a bad place. That the walls seem to be closing in and are about to topple on him

I feel helpless. What can I do? I begged him to meet me. That we can just sit and relax and talk or not talk or just hang. That I need to see him. I told him I would work around his schedule....and I basically begged him to just see him. He responded today....

Sorry was out of town and was not checking messages. Don't think I can do what you want, it's just too difficult for me right now. Sorry to
be this way but just very difficult to cope with anything now.

So now what? What do I do? How do I respond to that? Do I send him jokes and try to be light like I was doing? Do I just tell him that I am here for him? Do I admit to him that I feel helpless and that I care and basically ask him what I can do? He's really in a bad place. I don't know if I should play it light and keep sending jokes or if I should be totally serious...what would you say to that note.

I realize now.....how much I care for him. I want to just see him and hold him. To try and make him feel better. He won't do that. I dont want to push the issue and make him run....I want him to know I care. For the first time in my life, I don't know what to do. One wrong move, and I feel like he will disappear forever. Wow, I care so much about him. It hurts me to know he is hurting.

Advice anyone? Please...a direction....I don't want to lose him by making the wrong move here....