Axing the ex

Last week I received an email from someone I had really never expected to, or had wanted to, hear from again.

'Heard you're getting married, is it true? Who's the lucky guy?' asked the message, innocently, as if the party asking was entitled to know. I re-read the message many, many times, and each time I read it I felt the disbelief and annoyance grow in my head. How did he find out my email address? How does he know about my private life? Why is he contacting me now, after all these years? When I told M. about it, he said, "Delete it." But I didn't, not immediately.

'How are you?' the message greeted me, and I grimaced when I saw the title of the message - 'Howdy?'. I felt upset that he had mis-spelt my name.

How am I? Better than I ever was when you knew me. Happier than I was when you left me. I hope you are happy too, but don't expect me to be interested in finding out exactly how. You said I was a strong woman, too strong for 'li'l ol' ordinary you', and you were right. I've found myself someone strong, for the strong person that I am: someone who is sweet and smart, who knows how to love me and who is proud to show his love for me. I was wading through mud and nearly drowned; I've found my way back up now, and I'm flying.

I thought of all these things I wanted to say to him, then I deleted the message.