Lyric discussion by makeartnotmath 

Cover art for Parallel Lines lyrics by Kings of Convenience

I agree somewhat with imozarti, except that instead of this being present tense, I think that the realization happened after the relationship has ended.

When someone exits your life, their lack of action and words after that point force you to make up your own reasoning and justification as to their incentives and motivation. Sometimes you can dwell on someone's absence for so long that they become a metaphor, almost nonexistant... therefore he has only her image as compensation.