Sequence of Verb Tenses

Question

I wonder are these both sentences correct?

1. My home became empty since you walked away.
2. My home has become empty since you walked away.

Is the choice stylistic? Or I need to use only one of them and the other doesn't make sense?

Answer 1

Your example sentences

My home became empty since you walked away.
My home has become empty since you walked away.

both have the same meaning, that

From the time you walked away, my home is now empty.

To this native speaker's ear, there may be a nuance in what you are trying to say. Your original sentences might have the meaning that after you walked away the house was then emptied (of furniture).

If instead you wanted to say that the person who left took all the joy with them, you might say

My home has been empty since you walked away.