It was like 'Sorry about all that unfortunate business. But moving on, here's 3 pages about me'.

Mainly just how he was spending his days in prison. Just chatty and matter-of-fact - pleasant, even - and saying he hoped i'd write back or go and visit him. The tone suggests he hopes we might all just forgive and forget, and things can go back to 'normal' when he gets out.

I hadn't felt like what's happened had affected me that much, strange as that sounds. Certainly not as much as it had my Mam, brother and sister. After the initial shock had died down, I kind of just shrugged it off.

But the letter upset me a bit. How are you even supposed to react? Take it as another human being reaching out for comfort? Or as a cold attempt at manipulation from a selfish and habitual abuser? Both? I just don't feel like I know the man at all anymore. What's front, and what's him?

I'm ignoring the letter, as it happens. Certainly won't be writing back or going to visit him. And him being dead to me - which was my initial reaction - still holds.

But while he is actually alive, I suppose you have to take whatever he does it comes (even if he is still doing damage to my family from inside).